This reading was very interesting and informative. Seidensticker covered a lot of topics about translation and gave very specific examples for each which really helped clarify his points. I was especially intrigued by him talking about translating Shakespeare from English to Japanese. As an English major, I have read a lot of Shakespeare, but I cannot even imagine where I would begin to translate Shakespeare into another language. The number of syllables and the meter are so integral to Shakespearean language, which I feel would be almost impossible to get right. I had not even considered the use of syllables and rhythm in my translations but from now on I will pay more attention, however, I think I’m leaning towards having to sacrifice that for clarity’s sake at least at my level right now. I think I will attempt to read some Shakespeare in other languages now.
One point that also really stuck out to me was how about how authors should remain faithful to the original and not attempt to improve upon it. Even as I was doing my translations, I had to hold myself back from adding my own flair or including extra information, not that I think I am better but I kind of wanted to make my translation unique. But now I realized that to be a good translator is to convey the original as completely and perfectly as possible and not to create a subjectively great piece of work. I learned a lot from this reading, I did hope he would have talked more about Nagai Kafu though as I read a lot of Kafu for another Japanese class.
Celine Yuan
No comments:
Post a Comment