translation thread

[Michele A Berdy]

Speaking for myself, for what it's worth (and other caveats), I took some
umbrage at Subhash's images of translation -- imperfect, incomplete,
unsatisfying, or overdone. As Robert asked - more nicely than I probably
would have - why, when there are many examples of extraordinary
translations, does the image of a translation as something -- almost
necessarily, by definition -- lesser, wanting, and inadequate still remain?

I don't think it's a matter of translation having fallen into such
disrepute. In most places and times it was never in repute. But mostly, in
my experience (more caveats), it remains profoundly misunderstood. After 20
years, my neighbors still think I just retype things in English. And my film
clients can't understand why I won't translate their contracts. It makes us
(me) touchy.

But I loved the versions of Austen's opening sentence. 



 

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