Translated Works!

[Nossa]

I have this problem with any works that I read, that are translated into Arabic (my mother language). I feel that if I didn't read the work unless I read it in English. Problem is, most of those that I read in Arabic, are not found in English to begin with, do reading them in Arabic is the closest I can get.
Do you have the same feeling too, if you read a book translated into your own language?!
Is it even right to feel this way?!

[PeterL]

I have never read translations into Arabic, but I am fluent in French, and I have found that translations between English and French aren't the same as the original. There are excellent translations of some books, but some translations are horrible.

[Nossa]

The translations I read are all for one author, whom I admire the most among the contemporary writers in Egypt. But I don't think my problem is with the translations per se, it's the fact that translated works somehow don't 'mearue up' to the original, you know. It always feels like I'm reading it and all but something is still missing. I'm not sure if this is how I'm supposed to feel about translated works, but unless I read the book all over again in English, it doesn't feel like I read it at all. As I mentiones before, I turn to translated works, when I can't find the books I want here, the thing that is pretty common, giving to the fact that people here don't really read English works, not to mention that in Egypt, there are hardly any publishing companies for English or western literature in general.

[Tuesday]

I perfectly understand your feelings. After all, when you read a translation, you don't really read what the author wrote. It's a simple fact that those translated words are not the words that the author put on paper ;)

But then, what can you do? Make it a principle not to read translated works? Doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Just imagine what great works you would be missing out on. After all, most people don't speak more than two or maybe three languages.

Of course it's an entirely different thing when you are capable of reading English works of literature but don't have access to the books themselves due to economic of financial reasons, as it seems to be the case in Egypt, judging from your account of the situation. That's really an awkward position to be in.

[Nightshade]

Nossa which author? And Nossa have you tried the Britsh Council library? They are a bit expensve to join and literary snobs but they do have ALOT of books. Then of course theer is Voulme1 in Maadi and Alfa stores has a good selection of books and so does whats it called that big place carfore and I heard that city stars has a Jarir somewhere now and Jarir well the ones Ive been to in the Gulf had a lot of good selections.

Of course this is only any good if you happen to live in Cairo.

[Nossa]

It is awkward, more of frustrating even. I mean, there are probabaly only two places in Cairo, or whole Egypt for that matter, where you might find what you want. One of them is Virgin megastore, which isn't the best place either, the books are way too expensive, way beyond my budget, and they don't have all the books that seem to be pretty popular elsewhere.
I find translated works, or downloading the books when they're in public domain, the only two solutions for my situation..lol
But I agree, translations are not the words that the author wrote, but as you mentioned, it can't be helped when you don't have access to books the way people do in US or Europe. I kinda envy you guys..lol

[Nossa]

Nossa which author?

He's called Ahmed Khaled Tawfeek..I'm not sure if you're familiar with the name though. Do you live in Egypt :D

[Nightshade]

what did he write??
No not any more but I visit most years to see family (and the sun!) .

hey see this _--->>>>

And Nossa have you tried the Britsh Council library? They are a bit expensve to join and literary snobs but they do have ALOT of books. Then of course theer is Voulme1 in Maadi and Alfa stores has a good selection of books and so does whats it called that big place carfore and I heard that city stars has a Jarir somewhere now and Jarir well the ones Ive been to in the Gulf had a lot of good selections

the alfaa stores by Panarama 6 october used to have a big selection of books-- you know the one by the russian buildings I think they are with big Nike store?

[Nossa]

what did he write??
No not any more but I visit most years to see family (and the sun!) .

hey see this _--->>>>


the alfaa stores by Panarama 6 october used to have a big selection of books-- you know the one by the russian buildings I think they are with big Nike store?

I thought about the British Counsil, but I didn't find it a practical idea, since it's way far from where I live, and to borrow books and return it in the period given, it'd be almost impossible, esp. when I return to college. I do find books in Carfore whenever I have I go, but not everything I want though. I've never checked Alfa markets though, so that'd be a good place to check now :D Jarir, sadly, doesn't have a branch in Egypt. I only get to see its collection of books during the book fair, and even then I don't have the time I want, cuz the book fair normaly starts when I have exams, and I finish exams when it's almost finished.
I know a good bookstore, it's a new one called Al Diwan, it's in Zamalek. You should check it when you're here. It has a great collection of books too, but I guess I'm the one who's a little bit demanding. I also go, as much as I can, to Al Fagala and Al Azbakeya (don't know if you know these two places), they sell used books, and I know someone there who gets me the books he can find.
About Ahmed Khaled Tawfeek, he doesn't write literary works as a matter of face, not in the Shakespearean sense at least. He writes thriller and horror books, but what I love about them is that they have lots of information, that makes you feel like it's not a real horror book you're reading, you know. The series is called Ma Wara'a Al Tabee'a. I loved his translations, and his opinions and his knowledge. He's a doctor actually, but he translates famous literary works in a book series that's sold in the book fair too. He translates lots of works, things I didn't even know before I read by him.

[Nightshade]

I thought they closed Al Azbakeya....

no Im sure my aunt told me bottom floor of City stars the big place with the hotels ( it is city stars isnt it) has a big jarir now or was it a el zamel?I always got those muddled becase where I lived in KSA they were next door to each other so I think of one and automatically think of the other.

[Nossa]

Nope, they didn't close Al Azbakeya, they just changed its place. I don't even know where its original place was, but it's still there, and it also opens during the books fair.
I'm not sure about Jarir then, if your aunt confirms it, then there's probably one. But it's def. not in City Stars..lol...There's Virgin Megastore there, but not Jarir, I've been there too many times. I wish Jarir would open a branch here, it's one of the BEST bookstores ever.

[Nightshade]

you can order from amazon but you have to pay the 25% tax and its expensive anyway and of course your relying on the egyptian post!

[Nossa]

lol..yup the Egyptian post. The one that delivers everything late even if you were sending it from next door..lol

[Nightshade]

or never delivers it to begin with :rolleyes:

[Nossa]

lols..yeah you're right. But my concern with our post service is the fact that I have NO guarantee whatsoever that whatever I ordered is gonna be delivered in one piece. They're VERY careless when it comes to these things. I remember that some letters came for my brother from UK and Australia concerning a certain test, and the letter was actually opened!

[Nightshade]

Ok we have got tooo OT to stay in this thread move to general chat.

RE:OP
I have read some books Oliver twist and the man in the brown suit that were translated into Arabic , the first problem was its not my first langage the second was that in the oliver twist you had 2 pages that were never translated ( it was one of those one side one lang one side the other ). And with the man in the brown suit well my problem there was like one paragraph and wouldnt you know it was the one where they solve everything I couldnt understand it. BUt later looking at the english version I still found it confusing but thats Agatha Christie for you.

[Nossa]

I have three translated books by Agatha Christie, and the translation of them is a bit...odd! They translate things literally. Like they see a word, and think of its synonym in Arabic, and eventually it feels that they're just putting words together..no literature in that at all.

[Pensive]

Without any doubt, books lose something when translated. Sometimes more than 'something' when translations are really bad. Reading original is usually much better. But as long as a book is not very poorly-translated, I am even fine with translations. Sometimes it's better to have something than nothing. :)

[stella]

what i hate most about translated books is how they are magically shrunk from 400 pages in the original to 200 or less sometimes.

[Nossa]

@Pensive: I agree, at least I read something, rather than not reading at all!
@Stella: I think I know where you're coming from, but not all the translations have the same problem, some of them are pretty good. I guess you just have to look out forthe good ones.

[stella]

@Stella: I think I know where you're coming from, but not all the translations have the same problem, some of them are pretty good. I guess you just have to look out forthe good ones.

unfortunately i don't know names of good translators so if i find the english version i buy it ..its's the best solution....besides getting books in english is much cheaper ;)