Cathy Hirano Reading

There were various points that I found interesting from the reading, including general thoughts on translation as well as the author's own opinion. "It is a balancing act, requiring sensitivity and intuition, a combination of humility, vigilance, and arrogance." I found this quote interesting because I never really considered that arrogance could framed in a positive light, especially in this scenario. However, after reading the author's explanation, this statement makes a lot of sense. While the translator must stay true to the author's work and prioritize conveying their tone, nuance, and overall artistry in the new language, there is much room for interpretation and seeing things from different perspectives. This idea makes me think about how impactful the translator's upbringing and relationship with the two languages affects how they view their work. For example, I feel that as a person who grew up in a bilingual, multicultural household where I was surrounded by Japanese, American, and Armenian culture from childhood, I would have a different interpretation or approach to translating a text than someone like this translator who grew up Canadian and married a Japanese man later in her life. I do not think there is any "right" or "wrong" way to translate or interpret work, and I think that each experience shapes a person's procedure which can result in interesting varieties of the same writing. I also found it interesting that Hirano stated that she was, "terrified of reading [her] translation after it has been published because [she knew that she would] find errors, omissions, or things that [she] would now say differently" and that she needed that "arrogance during the translation process to sustain [her] to the finish". Her worry emphasizes that translation is an art, not a science, which can in turn make it difficult to feel satisfied with the final product. Having confidence in one's own interpretation of the author's work is highly important in translation. In order to strengthen one's confidence, I believe that speaking to the author (if possible), doing specific research on the work and topic, and having a deep understanding of the purpose of the work can build this confidence and guide the translator with the tools they need to convey the original message.

Emma Messerian