Translations, translations

[Erichtho]

Inspired from the "Definitive" translations thread I would like to ask you some questions. Too often the work of translators are not honoured and rewarded enough, although everyone who appreciates literature should be aware of the importance of translations. For the sake of a clear view I number the questions.

1) How much attention do you pay to translations in general?

2) If you've liked a book, do you sometimes search for other authors that are translated by the same person?

3) When it comes to world literature, there often are a plethora of translations. Do you tend to compare different translations before you make the decision to buy one?

4) Do you tend to read a book that you really like in several translations?

5) Do you usually buy the "classical" translation (e.g. the King James Bible) or do you prefer more modern translations?

6) Do you read poetry in translation?

7) If you like the works of an author and then come to know that he also translates, are you interested in his translations?

8) If you read in more than one language, do you sometimes read the same book in several languages?

9) Do you have a favourite translator?

[lshomie]

It's been a long time since I haven't read any translated book since I tend to stick to novels written either in English or in French, but I'll give your questions a go.


1) How much attention do you pay to translations in general?

Not much, unless a particular sentence sounds 'off' or clumsy. Thanks to your question, I've just realized that I tend to put great writing down to the author and clumsiness to the translator. Not fair, is it? :)


2) If you've liked a book, do you sometimes search for other authors that are translated by the same person?

That could happen, in the same way you look at the list of books published by the same company.


3) When it comes to world literature, there often are a plethora of translations. Do you tend to compare different translations before you make the decision to buy one?


5) Do you usually buy the "classical" translation (e.g. the King James Bible) or do you prefer more modern translations?

It all depends on the quality of the original book.
For classics, I'd rather read the 'classic' translation, even if it sometimes strays from the original text (Baudelaire for Poe, for example). As to other books, I'd rather read a modern translation, which is usually more transparent.


6) Do you read poetry in translation?

Never. It is pointless in my book. :)

[Mockingbird_z]

well i think it depends on if you know the language or not (of the book you are going to read). I learn English so its no problem to read books in original (of course if I have time as I usually have more than one book to read for lessons) but I have to read poetry in translation if i dont know the language it was written in.
certainly I know that it is not the best way to read foreign literature but I have no other option

[chasestalling]

A thankless task, translating is. Then again translators are like umpires or referees. Less their notoriety the better.

[aabbcc]

I love questionnaires. :D Very good one, btw.

1) How much attention do you pay to translations in general?

Quite some; to start with, I am aware of whether I am reading a work in original or in translation - almost always, very few were the cases in which in the midst of reading I bothered to check and figured I was actually reading translation - usually I know it before reading.

That said, I still read the vast majority of the books in originals. I speak Italian, English (at least I love to think it is fluent :D), the languages of what used to be called Serbo-Croatian, and Russian. Having been taught French for years, I can read it with 'fluency' in reading although I never use it actively enough to be able to state my full competence in the language; I can also read, with minor difficulties though, Greek (though I am far from fluent actively, I just have good passive command of it) and classics; all of the above combined, I can read a lot of easier things in other languages as well, due to passive knowledge acquired via minimum of exposure and/or knowledge of lexically similar languages (e.g. in other Slavic or Romance languages). I can read probably over 90% of books and literature of my interest, thus, in originals.

For the rest percentage, then, I tend to be aware that they are not in original; sometimes I check available translations before reading, and mostly I consciously decide translation to which language I am going to read (some kind of intuition which kind of work - if I am relatively familiar with the themes of what I am about to read - would 'suit' better to which of the languages I speak, e.g. I read Kafka in Russian, but Hesse in Italian).

2) If you've liked a book, do you sometimes search for other authors that are translated by the same person?

No, never did that. Only once I purposely took the book of translations of poetry by one person.

3) When it comes to world literature, there often are a plethora of translations. Do you tend to compare different translations before you make the decision to buy one?

Sometimes. Usually the main issue for me is to decide translation to which language I am going to read. When I am "within" a language and past that obstacle, then it gets easier and I am not that much bothered by it.

4) Do you tend to read a book that you really like in several translations?

No, I usually become attached to a specific translation, after which other ones sound 'wrong'.

5) Do you usually buy the "classical" translation (e.g. the King James Bible) or do you prefer more modern translations?

Classical. Though never 'innaturally' classical, like the case of Ladan's translations of Aristotle to Croatian ( :sick: ), where one purposely tries to make all kinds of language follies just to sound 'classical'. I like classical which feels 'natural'. Kind of hard to explain what I mean.

6) Do you read poetry in translation?

Sometimes. Usually when it comes to certain translations of Russian poetry to Croatian. They always sound 'better' to me in Croatian than in the original, weird child I know. :D Other than that, I really try not to, but I cannot avoid it in case of German poetry which I really like, and in some cases of Spanish poetry, which I can read only to some extent. More "exotic" poetry, as in poetry written in geographically very distant languages, I usually do not read, but I guess that there I would encounter a lot of problems, since the languages are simply not 'congenial'.

7) If you like the works of an author and then come to know that he also translates, are you interested in his translations?

Usually not.

8) If you read in more than one language, do you sometimes read the same book in several languages?

Yes. Though I also return to the same set of languages I like to read in (Italian, Croatian) and always put down the same set of languages I do not like to read in (Russian, English). Very few exceptions from that rule, especially when it comes to translated works whose original is in neither of the languages I speak. But even in the cases of original, there are tons of anglophone and Russian literature I would, without a second of doubt, read in some other language to be able to enjoy it more.

9) Do you have a favourite translator?

No.

[Zeruiah]

Inspired from the "Definitive" translations thread I would like to ask you some questions. Too often the work of translators are not honoured and rewarded enough, although everyone who appreciates literature should be aware of the importance of translations. For the sake of a clear view I number the questions.

1) How much attention do you pay to translations in general?

I probably pay too much attention to translations. It's been a concern of mine for years, and I'm still a teenager.

2) If you've liked a book, do you sometimes search for other authors that are translated by the same person?

No. I find that, even when it comes to the same author, translators tend to do their best on a single book; everything else vacillates in quality.

3) When it comes to world literature, there often are a plethora of translations. Do you tend to compare different translations before you make the decision to buy one?

Yes, definitely.

4) Do you tend to read a book that you really like in several translations?

No. Unless it comes to a side-by-side comparison of the original language and a translation, like the Loeb editions.

5) Do you usually buy the "classical" translation (e.g. the King James Bible) or do you prefer more modern translations?

I prefer aged translations that come from the time when the original novel was written. This way, the language of the translation simulates the antiquity of the original in terms of diction. Obviously this is not always possible. If this isn't possible, I just find the most recent and literal translation available.

6) Do you read poetry in translation?

No. This is part of the reason why I like studying languages and other cultures. Not only do languages mismatch in terms of rhyme and intonation, but cultural differences can make interpreting poems impossible. Poetry really should not be translated or read without contextual understanding, in my opinion.

7) If you like the works of an author and then come to know that he also translates, are you interested in his translations?

No. Henry Longfellow being the exception, good translators aren't always good poets or authors.

8) If you read in more than one language, do you sometimes read the same book in several languages?

Yes, but only with Greco-Roman literature.

9) Do you have a favourite translator?

No. Like I said, I always change when it comes to translators.


Answers are in the quote box.

[Dori]

1) How much attention do you pay to translations in general?

2) If you've liked a book, do you sometimes search for other authors that are translated by the same person?

3) When it comes to world literature, there often are a plethora of translations. Do you tend to compare different translations before you make the decision to buy one?

4) Do you tend to read a book that you really like in several translations?

5) Do you usually buy the "classical" translation (e.g. the King James Bible) or do you prefer more modern translations?

6) Do you read poetry in translation?

7) If you like the works of an author and then come to know that he also translates, are you interested in his translations?

8) If you read in more than one language, do you sometimes read the same book in several languages?

9) Do you have a favourite translator?

1) Enough attention, I think. A little research does the trick most of the time.
2) No, but if I did come across that translator, I probably would buy it.
3) I usually do a little research on the web before deciding upon a translation. If I am unable to do so, the cheaper one is the one I buy.
4) I haven't read any books in different translations.
5) I delibrately bought the KJV Bible over the modern translation. In most cases, yes.
6) I don't read enough poetry to answer this.
7) Of course.
8) Only read in English.
9) The only translator that comes to mind is Constance Garnett.

[johann cruyff]

1) How much attention do you pay to translations in general?

2) If you've liked a book, do you sometimes search for other authors that are translated by the same person?

3) When it comes to world literature, there often are a plethora of translations. Do you tend to compare different translations before you make the decision to buy one?

4) Do you tend to read a book that you really like in several translations?

5) Do you usually buy the "classical" translation (e.g. the King James Bible) or do you prefer more modern translations?

6) Do you read poetry in translation?

7) If you like the works of an author and then come to know that he also translates, are you interested in his translations?

8) If you read in more than one language, do you sometimes read the same book in several languages?

9) Do you have a favourite translator?

1. Well,normally,it should be on of the most important things to think about when buying a book,but I'm usually very happy just to find what I'm looking for.I very rarely have the luxury to pick between different translations.So,to answer the original question,not much.

2. Not really,I never thought about that connection.

3. See number 1.

4. If I can get my hands on different translations,I'll compare them,but I'll usually read the translation I like the best.

5. I always prefer to stick to the classics.

6. Yes,I often read translated poetry.Well,unless it's written in Bosnian or English,I have to.

7. Absolutely.

8. I have on several occasions,the last one being Moby Dick.I first read it in Bosnian,and later in English.

9. Yes,they are from the Balkans though.Zlatko Crnković and Branimir Živojinović are possibly the two greatest translators in Slavic languages.

[stlukesguild]

1) How much attention do you pay to translations in general?-

Quite a bit... especially for poetry or books that are classics and offer more than a single translation.

2) If you've liked a book, do you sometimes search for other authors that are translated by the same person?

I don't know that I'll consciously search out other authors by the same translator, but I will certainly be more likely to select a translation of a book by a translator who I feel was particularly strong in other selections I have read: Robert Fagles, Allen Mandelbaum, Richard Wilbur, Edward Snow, etc...

3) When it comes to world literature, there often are a plethora of translations. Do you tend to compare different translations before you make the decision to buy one?

Certainly. I tend to check out the critical opinions of given translations and then to browse through such myself.

4) Do you tend to read a book that you really like in several translations?

Definitely. Where the original work is definitive, each translation is by its very nature biased in one way or another. I have about 5 translations of Dante, 4 of Cervantes, 3 of Homer and Virgil, numerous translations of the Bible or sections thereof, and often several different versions of translations of shorter, lyrical poetry unless I find a particular translator especially successful. With Rilke's Duino Elegies, for example, I have three different complete versions and some single elegies by others.

5) Do you usually buy the "classical" translation (e.g. the King James Bible) or do you prefer more modern translations?

I will have both. With the Bible, for example, the King James translation is a particularly impressive and marvelous work of English literature in their own rite. It is written in a marvelous prose that is far more poetic and far greater as literature than many modern "literal" translations. On the other hand, I have found translations of certain sections by more recent translators that capture elements of the original Hebrew that are lacking in the King James. With the Psalms I have several translations including an anthology in which the editors selected what they felt were the best by various translators including poets as old as Wyatt. While the 23rd Psalm is particularly magnificent in the King James translation (which accounts for its popularity in the English-speaking world) many of the others are far from poetic. In other instances I have certain classic translations because the writer offers a view of the original text that is closer in history to the original: Tobias Smollett's Cervantes, Sir John Harrington's Orlando Furioso, etc... In some other instances the "clssic" translation is simply marvelous in its own rite or offers a unique view of the original work that is quite different from later translations: Pope's Homer, Dryden's Virgil, Longfellow's Dante, Rossetti's Vita Nuova, etc... Again... in most instances I will prefer to have both the classic/older translation and a newer one.

6) Do you read poetry in translation?

Of course. Unless I somehow am given the time to master German, French, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, Russian, and any number of other languages... often to an extent that is quite demanding and requires a knowledge of archaic words and phrases and phrases/metaphors/similes unknown to an English-speaking reader... then I am forced to depend upon translations. I know that there are those who imagine that translation of poetry is impossible. I'm not one of them, and have put forth my thoughts here before:
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31891

7) If you like the works of an author and then come to know that he also translates, are you interested in his translations?

I have done as much with certain poets.

8) If you read in more than one language, do you sometimes read the same book in several languages?

When I was fluent enough to still read German I read Goethe and a few others with the aid of a translation and a dictionary. I have also read him in several English translations. As I stated before it is always preferable to read a work in the original.

9) Do you have a favourite translator?

Perhaps not a single favorite. I like Robert Fagles', Richard Wilbur, Allen Mandelbaum, Donald Frame, Stephen Mitchell, Edward Snow, William Weaver, Richard Howard, Louise Varese, W.S. Merwin, and many others.

[Abraxas]

1) How much attention do you pay to translations in general?

Quite a lot, but only when I read translations from a language that I can speak (it's rather annoying to recognize English structures in French, for instance). But it's difficult to know, when you can't speak the original language, whether a translation is botched or not - and anyhow I like the strangeness that comes from recognizing that there is a foreign element in the style.

2) If you've liked a book, do you sometimes search for other authors that are translated by the same person?

No, I have to confess that I rarely look at the translator's name.


3) When it comes to world literature, there often are a plethora of translations. Do you tend to compare different translations before you make the decision to buy one?

No, I'm an impulse buyer of books, and I acquire large quantities of them without thinking about translators. But I tend to trust publishing houses to choose the best translations...

4) Do you tend to read a book that you really like in several translations?

Not really... I've done it, but it's a little uncanny, like listening to different interpretations of the same piece of music. But when it comes to some works, it's necessary to have a look at different translations: for the Bible, or Classical authors.

5) Do you usually buy the "classical" translation (e.g. the King James Bible) or do you prefer more modern translations?

I like the King James Version, because I find it more beautiful. But I try to read the translations that the authors I am studying have read. As for other works, there are some classical translations that I am attached to, but I find the modern school of translation more faithful to the original text. Then again, if I haven't read the original, I don't know whether it's faithful or not, and I don't always care!!

6) Do you read poetry in translation?

Well, yes, I'm obliged to... if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to read German or Russian poetry, for example!! But I love bilingual editions, and even reading poetry in another language without understandind a word!


7) If you like the works of an author and then come to know that he also translates, are you interested in his translations?

Yes. Mallarmé or Baudelaire's translations have interested me. But it wouldn't be systematic.

8) If you read in more than one language, do you sometimes read the same book in several languages?

Yes, I've already done that. But I tend to associate a language to an author (or to a book): it feels very odd reading some of the Russians in English, since I started reading them in French. Or some of the Germans in French, since I've read them mostly in English.


9) Do you have a favourite translator?

Nope.