I always enjoy reading classic books, most of which are translated for easier reading. However, I’ve noticed that translations often alter the original meaning. I recommend people to read the original text, especially when it comes to literature, as it allows you to truly grasp the writer’s feelings.
by Glimmeringveils
7 Comments
You’ve really set the thread up. When you ask about translation it suggesting completely different languages, as opposed to just updating the phrasing to be more relevant and easier to follow for a modern audience. Have you any examples you find troublesome?
It really depends on the book if you ask me. I for example think the German translation of the Witcher is just so much better than the Polish original.
I think this depends on a number of factors. The most obvious one is the fact that expression equivalents in different languages don’t convey the same meaning. What I also found recently is that somehow cultural and geographical adjacency (this probably isn’t even a term but let’s call it that) makes a translated work understandable way better than a translation to a language spoken in a country with a completely disjoint culture. I for one experienced this when I was looking up expressions in Russian literature which were actually quite close to their equivalent in my native language (Romanian), whereas their translation in English would be horrendous.
I personally like to read the original whenever I can. But the amount of languages I know is too limited. I would love to be able to read Yukio Mishima in Japanese for instance, because even though I like his books in English, I always wonder what subtleties I am missing due to the translation.
How can you truly grasp the writer’s feelings, but somehow translators, who spend significantly more time with the text and are probably much better trained than you in the use and understanding of language and how it functions in literature, cannot?
A translated book is one that has been translated from its original language, to a new language. Such as Crime and Punishment being written in Russian, and translated into English. Is this what you mean?
Translated books are always interpreted by the translator. So if you really want to connect with the author without a third person between you, read the original