11/8 Readings

Hibbett's speech helped me realize how personal the art of translation is. Many translators have an very strong relationship with the original author's they are translating (if they are alive), or at least a deep understanding of not only their work, but their life, education, personality, and beyond. I had not really thought about this previously but it is logical, especially since translators are recreating an author's work with the utmost effort to remain true to it's original essence. Embodying the author and having a profound understanding of who they are would definitely support their ability to produce a more accurate translation. On the other hand, this is why I believe it is also important to have a deep understanding of both of the cultures involved in the translating process, but especially the one of the language you are translating a text into. By catching certain nuances that an ordinary reader may miss, the translator is able to convey and reframe an element of the text that may not come across the right way otherwise. Knowing the author, the cultural context of the text, and the audience that will be consuming the work is highly important.

Unrelated to the above point, I found the following quote interesting: "in the United States, where we have an academic cultural criticism that questions all sorts of established views". This idea speaks to the importance of freedom of speech, diversity, and individuality. If one small group determines what is deemed to be significant, and people are afraid to say otherwise, we lose out on the sharing and challenging of ideas. There is value in being allowed to question "established views" and have a minority opinion, as this creates discussion and allows for growth.

An interesting point in Copeland's article was the following "I wanted to create a perfect equivalent of Shiga’s piece in English—the perfect translation. I was naïve". This speaks to the argument that translation is not a science but an art. No two pieces of work are the same in different languages because of the fundamental differences carried by language, including grammar and sentence structure, but also cultural nuances. There is never really a "universal translation" of a work of writing, because it would be impossible to create a "perfect translation" that satisfied everyone's needs and desires. Every translator has a different understanding of the author, the text, the original culture, the culture of the language the work is being translated into, the audience, and many other minute factors that we do not think about. Additionally, one language may have regional variations, and language itself may evolve over time and outgrow old translations. Considering all of these factors, it is crucial to keep an open mind and remain aware that one's translation of a work is simply one interpretation of the original.

Emma