1. Seidensticker said, "I think that when the original author is flat, the translation should be flat but, of course, that's impractical. No editor would allow it." Do you agree with him that in a perfect world, the translation of flat prose should be flat? Extending upon that, if tasked with translating a very generic text with very generic prose, is it the translator's duty to make a more readable text?
2. In regards to the discussion on differentiating Tokyo and Osaka speech as well as the speech of different classes, how can a translator realistically transpose the sociopolitical implications associated with different forms of speech? Furthermore, in attempting to do so, how can a translator responsibly translate one dialect into another without offending speakers of either dialect?
3. On the debate of whether or not a man can translate a woman or a woman being able to translate a man, how does that debate extend to other elements of a person? Is a translation bettered by the translator mirroring an author in class, gender, race, ideology, or any other potential commonality?
1. I agree that in a perfect world if the original prose is flat then the translation should be flat as well. I also understand that it is almost impossible to have a flat translation published. I don't think is translator's duty to make a prose more readable. To me, I think a translator's duty is to convey what the author wants to say. If the author want his/her text to be flat then the translation should be flat as well.
ReplyDelete2. I don't think it is realistic to accurately translate different forms of speech. It is just very hard to find the perfect equivalent words in a second language which express the same meanings in the multiple dialects in the original language. I think when attempting to do so, the best way is just to be careful with word choices and in the end thoroughly explain the rationale behind the word choices when translating dialects.
3. I think any translator can translate any work he/she wanted to. If gender has to be brought on the table, then I would argue that age should be as well. Can a 40-year-old translator translate a 25-year-old writer's work? Can a 20-year-old translator translate a 80-year-old poet's poems? I really don't think gender or age or race or class is an issue when translating. What really matters is that this translator's ability to understand the text and his/her mastery in both languages.
1. I agree with Seidensticker that if the original author is flat, the translation should emulate the same style to be more faithful to the author's voice. I think that to a certain extent the translator should try to make the text more readable, but the main focus should be preserving the author's voice.
ReplyDelete2. I think that conveying all of the information about a person based their dialect in English is very hard to do. Certain word choices might differentiate the dialogue between characters with different dialects, but I'm not really sure how to convey the nuances of the original Japanese dialects.
3. I think that a translator can translate anything they want, no matter gender, race, age, etc. I think that anyone can empathize with the voice of the author if they try to understand it, but I also believe that someone with a similar background to the author could possibly understand the text better than others.
1. I agree with Seidensticker, but the reality is that translators and editors have different duties. Translators are responsible for translating a text into a different language for other language speakers to read, and editors are responsible for editing it to ensure that the translation is correct and that it will sell well.
ReplyDelete2. I think one way to translate dialects is perhaps to use the slang of each particular region. For example where I'm from in NJ/NY we say "it's brick out" to mean that its freezing outside. There is no perfect solution, but I think the easiest way to understand the Tokyo-Osaka dynamic is to compare it to the Northeast and the South here in America.
3. Having the same type of background as the original author definitely puts the translator at an advantage. At the same time, a translator does not have to have the same background/commonalities in order to produce a good translation. That's what research, consulting native speakers and learning about the culture are for.