Bilingual writers and your inner writing voice

[Biskit]

That's not a problem for me. But here is a different thing. Have you ever tried to read a book in both languages? LOL I've found that the voices of the characters change! My academic reading inner voice very similar in both languages but fiction is oooh all over the place.

Is it possible that some of that comes from the translator? I would imagine it must be very tricky to translate fiction and replicate the author's intent and voice without introducing any of the translator's perception of the original.

 

[olive]

Is it possible that some of that comes from the translator? I would imagine it must be very tricky to translate fiction and replicate the author's intent and voice without introducing any of the translator's perception of the original.

Oh yes, sure. It's just I never experienced it that dramatically different before. Also, there are rare brilliant translations I loved too. But the voices, accents are...yeah. The main reason, personally, why I wouldn't dare to translate fiction.

 

[Biskit]

The main reason, personally, why I wouldn't dare to translate fiction.

Yeah, a friend of my partner translates poetry, which I find particularly boggling. Ignoring the fact that poetry in English rarely makes much sense to me, the idea of translating it into another language is a challenge and a half.

 

[olive]

Yeah, a friend of my partner translates poetry, which I find particularly boggling. Ignoring the fact that poetry in English rarely makes much sense to me, the idea of translating it into another language is a challenge and a half.

Oh my... your friend has my sympathies. I had to translate poetry as a part of a project.

 

[Biskit]

Oh my... your friend has my sympathies.

She has won a prize for her translations...

 

[olive]

Congratulations to her. Oh, that's so cool and precious.

 

[Biskit]

Yeah. Oddly enough the Brockway Prize for the translation of Dutch poetry is named for an English poet and translator.

 

[olive]

Maybe they have run out of names, it looks like a new award.

 

[Biskit]

I had to go and look it up. Apparently Brockway translated a lot of English novels into Dutch and likewise a lot of Dutch poetry into English. The prize was first awarded in 2005.

 

[Elckerlyc]

I had no idea Dutch poets created poetry that was worth the trouble of translating! No big names like Byron, Keats, Tennyson or Oscar Wilde.
But, it must be said, like you I have some difficulty understanding poems.

 

[olive]

I had to go and look it up. Apparently Brockway translated a lot of English novels into Dutch and likewise a lot of Dutch poetry into English. The prize was first awarded in 2005.

Ah, that makes sense. And a meaningful one.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

*Why? My part of Iowa is becoming more and more Hispanic. And I wanted to do something tangible because of my obligation as a Christian to "Welcome the sojourner." So I decided to learn Spanish.

I find this altogether admirable. But not surprising, knowing you.

 

[Alan Aspie]

Kecks are trousers or underpants.
A keg is a small beer barrel.

Both are wet and stiff. So... What's the difference (if you are not planning to drink)?

 

[Parson]

I find this altogether admirable. But not surprising, knowing you.

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm humbled by this response. I'm only too aware of my unadmirable traits.

 

[Laughingbuddha]

I translated several books (mostly Sci-Fi or thrillers) from English to Russian and I must admit that it is a challenge. But at the same time it is a lot of fun too(if you are not too stressed by the contracts, deadlines etc.). But still, usually after reading a good book in English I never try to read it in Russian translation, especially knowing that unfortunately currently the quality of the majority of translations in the Russian book market are really poor.