Comments on: Translated Literature http://www.publishingtrends.com/2009/03/translated-literature/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=translated-literature News and opinion on the changing world of book publishing Sat, 19 May 2012 13:12:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: red http://www.publishingtrends.com/2009/03/translated-literature/#comment-4382 red Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:09:30 +0000 http://publishi.nexcess.net/?p=75#comment-4382 There is a lot to be said for community translations, especially in areas where companies do not deem it necessary to localize for other markets (such as fansubs of Japanese anime etc.) or there simply isn't a company behind a product (open source software anyone?). But if you are running a business and trying to make the most out of the opportunities presnted by globalization, using professional <a href="//www.rosettatranslation.com/”" rel="nofollow">translation services</a> is the only way to go. Luckily, I can't see machines taking over the jobs of human translators in the near future, as they have done with so many other professions (remember telephone operators?) There is a lot to be said for community translations, especially in areas where companies do not deem it necessary to localize for other markets (such as fansubs of Japanese anime etc.) or there simply isn’t a company behind a product (open source software anyone?). But if you are running a business and trying to make the most out of the opportunities presnted by globalization, using professional translation services is the only way to go.
Luckily, I can’t see machines taking over the jobs of human translators in the near future, as they have done with so many other professions (remember telephone operators?)

]]> By: Svetlana Fotinov http://www.publishingtrends.com/2009/03/translated-literature/#comment-4337 Svetlana Fotinov Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:14:07 +0000 http://publishi.nexcess.net/?p=75#comment-4337 I believe that translated works (books) will generate more interest when more people in North America start learning foreign languages. A desire to master a foreign language will naturally create an interest in translated literature, and in translation. Students of foreign languages often start translating newspaper articles, etc. Then someone will try literary translation. And then, before you know it, a club is created where students discuss translated books, share their ideas and approaches to translation. But before that a solid linguistic foundation must be built. If you do not have any idea how to translate, say, Infinitive Constructions or Participle Constructions from English into Russian, Ukranian, French or Italian, the quality of translation will inevitably suffer. And then... everyone will say that the original and the translated text are worlds apart. I do believe that a good translation is an art form in itself. I also believe that a good translator must have solid kbnowledge of all aspects of the language pair he or she is working with. Thorough knowledge of a foreign language, the ability to see the difference in structure of the languages one is working with (the foreign language and one's first language), good knowledge of the country's cultural traditions, its history and its literature, excelent writing skills pave the road to success. The books that are translated well are remembered, and the art of translation is apreciated. But let's begin at the beginning: let's build the foundation first. Unfortunately, in North America, in Canada and in the US, the foundation is not solid enough yet. The result: 3%... In order to build strong Literary Translation Industry in North America it is necessary to work with universities, and to attract to universities talented, knowlegeble, and experienced teachers. Europe, with its diversity of languages, cultures, and literatures, and well-developed Literary Translation Industry is far ahead in this respect. True, approaches to teaching foreign languages and all aspects of translation and interpretation are very different in Europe. For Europeans, studying foreign languages is natural. In North America, it is "a melting pot approach", and everything boils down to English only, to one culture only. Translation Industry has no chance to thrive under these conditions: the majority of North Americans are interested only in their North American culture. How can you sell somebody a translated novel in this environment? Interest and Respect to other cultures has to be cultivated first. Universities could and should play a key role in creating Respect to and Appreciation of "other" cultures. Only then there will be a market for Transalted Literature in North America. Svetlana Fotinov, Translator/Editor (English to Russian) Foreign Languages Teacher, Graduate of the Moscow State Linguistic University (Russia) I believe that translated works (books) will generate more interest when more people in North America start learning foreign languages. A desire to master a foreign language will naturally create an interest in translated literature, and in translation. Students of foreign languages often start translating newspaper articles, etc. Then someone will try literary translation. And then, before you know it, a club is created where students discuss translated books, share their ideas and approaches to translation.

But before that a solid linguistic foundation must be built. If you do not have any idea how to translate, say, Infinitive Constructions or Participle Constructions from English into Russian, Ukranian, French or Italian, the quality of translation will inevitably suffer. And then… everyone will say that the original and the translated text are worlds apart.

I do believe that a good translation is an art form in itself. I also believe that a good translator must have solid kbnowledge of all aspects of the language pair he or she is working with. Thorough knowledge of a foreign language, the ability to see the difference in structure of the languages one is working with (the foreign language and one’s first language), good knowledge of the country’s cultural traditions, its history and its literature, excelent writing skills pave the road to success. The books that are translated well are remembered, and the art of translation is apreciated. But let’s begin at the beginning: let’s build the foundation first.
Unfortunately, in North America, in Canada and in the US, the foundation is not solid enough yet. The result: 3%…

In order to build strong Literary Translation Industry in North America it is necessary to work with universities, and to attract to universities talented, knowlegeble, and experienced teachers. Europe, with its diversity of languages, cultures, and literatures, and well-developed Literary Translation Industry is far ahead in this respect. True, approaches to teaching foreign languages and all aspects of translation and interpretation are very different in Europe. For Europeans, studying foreign languages is natural. In North America, it is “a melting pot approach”, and everything boils down to English only, to one culture only. Translation Industry has no chance to thrive under these conditions: the majority of North Americans are interested only in their North American culture. How can you sell somebody a translated novel in this environment? Interest and Respect to other cultures has to be cultivated first. Universities could and should play a key role in creating Respect to and Appreciation of “other” cultures. Only then there will be a market for Transalted Literature in North America.

Svetlana Fotinov,

Translator/Editor (English to Russian)
Foreign Languages Teacher,
Graduate of the Moscow State Linguistic University (Russia)

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