Steiner and Bellos

    Before reading Steiner’s piece, I searched up the definition of “hermeneutic.” According to Merriam-Webster, it is “the study of the methodological principles of interpretation.” To me, it was a reminder that we are not just translating the work, but interpreting its meaning. I went into the reading with that in mind.

    My first impression of “The Hermeneutic Motion” is that Steiner is a very abstract writer and stands out compared to the previous readings we’ve had. He has an interesting way of splitting the concept of translation up into the four elements described. It’s not the usual way of thinking that we usually see in translators’ articles. However, he maintains some of the same ideas that previous readings have touched upon. In one paragraph, he talks about how translations can “edge away” or “bring close” with regards to the “canvas” that is the original. It’s difficult to determine if one translation is “better” than the other; it is arguably up to the opinion of the reader. One of our early readings had the author comparing two translators’ works and preferring one over the other. However, there are some translations which capture the meaning of the original work better than others, which could arguably be considered “better.”

    In similar tandem to that point, Steiner also talks about the idea of “fidelity” and “balance.” A translator must be faithful to the original work; Steiner claims that reading too much or too little into the text, adding or cutting out details, tips this balance. Furthermore, anything lost must be restored.

    As for Bellos’s article, the beginning talks about how a work sounding like it had been written in the original language isn’t praise. To some extent, I agree; “domesticating” the work can take away from the original meaning, which Bellos acknowledges. However, the article later talks about the idea surrounding making a translation “sound foreign”, which, while an effective option in some contexts, isn’t always necessary. Many of the choices a translator makes ultimately depends on the context of the work.

    It’s easy, as English speakers, to take into granted how common the language is. English is used worldwide, even in places where it is not spoken. For example, Japanese katakana borrows many terms from English. This can give us a different impression of approaching translation than, say, translating to and from a less common language.

Alex