Literature in Translation
Literature can connect readers with larger truths and ideas about society as authors create empathy for the characters. As the reader journeys deeper into the plot, they begin to invest into the characters and try to understand
their behaviour and actions. What’s great about literature, in my opinion, are books that are set in a different location as this expands the view of the reader about
the world. However, not only are these stories set in a different location, but
the original version may have been written in another language.
Every language has their nuances which, at times, cannot be translated. And so, there is a challenge
on maintaining the expression and meaning behind certain words. “There must be faithfulness.” There’s tone, mood, expression, meaning, and context that translators have to consider when translating one language to another; they have to be able to capture these features in order to effectively communicate the writer’s intentions. For example, Feng’s version of Tagore’s ‘Stray Birds’ were highly criticised due to his interpretation carrying a different tone and meaning than the original. Yet there were younger Chinese writers who supported his version of Stray Birds. Therefore, demonstrating that the translated work itself is open to interpretation, scrutiny, and criticism because there’s always going to be different ways of approaching the original text.
There’s an abundance of English literature due to the many Anglophonic countries such as U.S., Canada, and U.K. These countries would have a highly evolved and rich literary cultures which are easily accessible to readers. Furthermore, English-speaking readers would gravitate towards works that would they could relate to and interest their sensibilities culturally, socio-economically, and personally. However, as mentioned in the article ‘Why Won’t English Speakers Read Books in Translation?’, the world is becoming smaller with the ability to travel and explore – not to mention online access which opens the door for an individual to look into the wider world. Therefore, translated works can be a means of delving into a world that otherwise, a reader, would not be able to understand.
Every language has their nuances which, at times, cannot be translated. And so, there is a challenge
on maintaining the expression and meaning behind certain words. “There must be faithfulness.” There’s tone, mood, expression, meaning, and context that translators have to consider when translating one language to another; they have to be able to capture these features in order to effectively communicate the writer’s intentions. For example, Feng’s version of Tagore’s ‘Stray Birds’ were highly criticised due to his interpretation carrying a different tone and meaning than the original. Yet there were younger Chinese writers who supported his version of Stray Birds. Therefore, demonstrating that the translated work itself is open to interpretation, scrutiny, and criticism because there’s always going to be different ways of approaching the original text.
There’s an abundance of English literature due to the many Anglophonic countries such as U.S., Canada, and U.K. These countries would have a highly evolved and rich literary cultures which are easily accessible to readers. Furthermore, English-speaking readers would gravitate towards works that would they could relate to and interest their sensibilities culturally, socio-economically, and personally. However, as mentioned in the article ‘Why Won’t English Speakers Read Books in Translation?’, the world is becoming smaller with the ability to travel and explore – not to mention online access which opens the door for an individual to look into the wider world. Therefore, translated works can be a means of delving into a world that otherwise, a reader, would not be able to understand.
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