Literary Translation

Question 1

What is translation?

Answer 1

• taking apart something that exists in original language and rebuilding it in a new language (like the London Bridge)
• literal translations aren’t successful in literary works

Question 2

Problems with translation

Answer 2

• words themselves
• verbs
• pronouns
• word order
• sound
• context and connotation

Question 3

Problems with the words themselves

Answer 3

• some English words don’t exist in other languages
• some English words sound like offensive words in other languages
• short English words become long words in other languages, etc.

Question 4

Problems with verbs

Answer 4

Some verb tenses exist in other languages but not in English

Question 5

Problems with pronouns

Answer 5

• Have nuances associated with them that can be hard to translate
• ie. using “tu” in French as a sign of disrespect -> nothing like that exists in English

Question 6

Problems with word order

Answer 6

• word order isn’t always the same

- ie. “table rond” in French -> “round table” in English

Question 7

Problems with sound

Answer 7

• things don’t sound the same in different languages

- ie. violin-ish sounds of french sound different in English

Question 8

Problems with context and connotation

Answer 8

• people who speak the same languages share some certain cultural understandings that aren’t shared by other languages
• ex. “fox” vs. a “silver fox” -> silver fox has underlying meaning in English that other languages wouldn’t understand

Question 9

Limits of translation

Answer 9

• linguistic relativity
• number of words
• puns

Question 10

Limits of translation -> linguistic relativity

Answer 10

• weak Sapir-Whorf hypothesis: cognitive processes, like thought and experience, may be influenced by the language someone speaks
• strong Sapir-Whorf hypothesis: language entirely determines the range of possible cognitive processes of an individual (aka: linguistic determinism)

Question 11

limits of translation -> number of words

Answer 11

• more words can be added onto the root word (ex. anti-dis-establish-ment-arian-ism)

Question 12

limits of translation -> puns

Answer 12

• hard to translate in other languages
• ex. “if time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana” wouldn’t be the same in French, you’d have to come up with a new pun that means the same thing

Question 13

Why does translation matter?

Answer 13

• identity: standardization of language creates a culture (ie. Czech)
• reading: figuring out what people mean beyond the dictionary definition, understanding others
• writers as translators: keep in mind sound, syntax, precise words, context and connotation, and dialogue