IN THE HIDDEN CHAMBER OF OUR
INTIMACY ALL PROS AND CONS MINGLE.
A writer writes something. Next, an
editor edits it, eliminating grammatical and factual errors and usually
tightening the style if needed. The text then goes to a translator,
whose job is to translate the text. A final editor (me!) then makes sure
that the text is as natural sounding as possible in the target
language.
THE FAMOUS TIGHTROPE WALKER
HOUDINI WOULD SPREAD HIS ARMS.
The translator’s dilemma is the
challenge that a translator faces when needing to relay something from
one language that does not translate exactly or even smoothly. A joke is
lost; do you “make up for it” later? How can you convey a stylistic
flourish? Do cultural activities get explanations?
TIME SEEMS TO STAND STILL TILL MY
HISTORY COMES ALIVE.
The particular translator's dilemma that I’ve been thinking
about this week is the one that happens when for some reason the source
language editor has not done their job. This is sometimes not because
the editor did a bad job, but because the writer did not feel the need
for an editor at all.
I WOULD ASSEMBLE IT THE WAY FIRST ANTHROPOLOGISTS WOULD
ASSEMBLE SKELETON OF MESOZOIC SAURIANS.
The dilemma is this: What if the writer is a
poor writer; what if the text is error-ridden
in the extreme? Is the translator's job to make sure the writer's work
is reproduced as faithfully as possible? to
make text sound as good as it can? to make the text easier for the reader? Is the translator's duty to the
writer, or to the text, or to the reader?
SHE IMPERSONATES THE HEAVENLY AND
HELLISH BEAUTY.
The language editor's dilemma is the same song at a
different pitch. It IS an editor's job to fix factual, grammatical, and
stylistic errors. The problem is, when the text gets to the translator,
it should already have been cleared of error in the source text, and the
language editor should really only be worrying about such stylistic
changes as are necessary to make the text sound natural in the target
language. Should.
IT TESTS TRESPASSING INTRUDERS IN AN INNOCUOUS FOREPLAY.
But. I just got done editing a book that had so many errors it was almost funny. I decided to
go at it as the first editor should have done, which meant a lot of
research. It turns out that I enjoyed it (the research part) a lot more
than I’d expected. I turned in a text that was reasonably accurate,
grammatically correct, and stylistically still a reasonable reflection
of the writer. I feel a little morally conflicted, because the English
version doesn’t align with the original as it should, which is beyond
the call, but I felt I had to do it that way. I’m not even sure if I was
appropriately loyal to the readers, who have now been robbed of some
pretty funny stuff. However, since it was too good to throw it all away,
I have given you a little taste of the meal.
HEROD WASHED HIS HANDS.
tuckova 