Chapters 3, 4 & 5

Hi all - Here are a few more notes on the next chapters of the book:

Chapter 3 - Why do we call it “translation”?

Something doesn’t exist just because we have a word for it (e.g. levitation)

Translation is both a thing and a process

Translation from the Latin means: “to bear across” “to carry across”, but etymology of a word doesn’t necessarily equate with its current meaning.

In other languages “translation” is called “turning”, “transmitting”, “speaking after”

Considerable focus placed on the idea of “carrying over” meaning. But what meaning?

Chapter 4 - Things people say about translation

The false wisdom of “A translation is no substitute for the original”. Of course it is. That’s exactly what it is: a substitute for the original.

People who make this claim are seeking to establish their authority: i.e. that they are fit to judge the original and a translation thereof, and to determine that the translation isn’t as good.

The only thing this adage does is “provide spurious cover for the view that translation is second-rate”.

Chapter 5 - "Foreign-Soundingness"

How “foreign” should a translation sound?

Why do we praise a text that sounds as if it were originally written in the target language?

Should translators leave parts of the text in the source language to make it sound foreign?

If so, how much?

For Ancient Greeks, foreigners sounded like “va-va-va” when they spoke (i.e. blah-blah-blah), which is why they called them “vavaros”, the origin of “barbarians”.

“…foreign-soundingness of a translation can only reproduce or reinforce what the receiving culture already imagines the foreign to be”.

Why should an author “sound” like his native tongue? Kafka doesn’t sound German in German – he sounds like Kafka.

Foreign-soundingness is only possible when the target audience is familiar with the source culture.

Fish in Your Ear - Comments Chap 1 & 2

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was going to re-read the book (Is That a Fish in Your Ear?) and post some comments, so here goes.

The main topic of the book is: What is translation? and What is it that translation does?

Chapter 1 begins by saying that translation is difficult to study and to understand, because it varies in so many ways. A hundred translators could very well produce 100 different translations of the same text, while there would only be a tiny chance of any two out of those 100 translations being identical.

In short, translation isn't an exact science, but that's part of its charm.

Chapter 2 asks the question: Is translation avoidable/necessary?

Bellos says that three possibilities have been historically tested:

1) Learn all the languages of people with whom you have contact (e.g. India)

2) Everyone must speak one common language (e.g. Roman empire)

3) Ignore anyone who doesn’t speak your language (e.g. Albania post WWII)

Since the British Empire, English has emerged as a global language. But why?

- Common myth that it is “easier” to learn than others (false)

- Economic/military power played a role, but it also has survived by default (many others have fallen from use: French, German, Latin, etc.)

Attempts have been made at a “global” language: e.g. Esperanto

- It's unlikely ever to succeed without some other impetus (economic, military, scientific, etc.)

So translation is avoidable, but most likely necessary.

I'd love to hear other translators/interpreters thoughts. Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

-John

Fish in your ear - The Interview

Good morning. I have yet another link related to the book: Is That a Fish in your Ear? This time, it's an interview on NPR with the book's author, David Bellos. Looks like at least one translator is getting some national recognition in the States.

Enjoy!

-John

Is That a Fish in Your Ear? Time for comments

Hello fellow CATI bookworms,

As I mentioned in my last post, I recently bought and read the book "Is That a Fish in Your Ear?" by David Bellos. It's a very good read in general, and I highly recommend it for anyone in the translation/interpreting sector.

There are so many good points addressed that I don't where to begin, but over the next few weeks, I'm going to re-read the chapters and post some thoughts on this blog.

Please feel free to comment, and if you have the chance, pick up the book and let me know what you think. I'll look forwarding to hearing from you.

-John