Works in Translation

Your task is to write a response that examines the study of literature in translation. Your response should demonstrate an awareness of specific benefits and challenges through references to today’s readings, as well as making tangible connections to the learning outcomes from Part 3 of the course.

The work of translators is one of the hardest in literature given that they are tasked with preserving the authenticity, message and richness of a work whilst translating it into another language. In addition, the work is highly subjective given that the way the translator interprets the text can also influence the way he translates it. Taking this into consideration, works into translation can be considered the gate into a world of cultural differences and understandings. A gate that would not be open if it weren’t for the work of translators. Linking this to Part 3 of the course, the translation of a work into another language enables the audience to grasp new historical, cultural and social contexts that otherwise would have been unavailable due to language barriers. On the grander scheme of things, works in translation contribute to the plurality of perspectives surrounding different contexts, perspectives that perhaps are not part of the dominant consensus because they were written in a different language. In addition, having access to this perspectives inform the audience of the different attitudes and values that authors who lives through the aforementioned context had. All of this enriches our understanding of historical, cultural and social contexts. 

Nevertheless, translation inherently poses challenges. Languages independently have different cultural expressions that cannot be translated to other languages. Taking that into consideration, authors have to make choices as to whether to translate a word or phrase literally, or to preserve its authenticity and meaning without executing a literal translation. These choices are also highly influenced by the personal interpretation of the translator– this is observes in the case of an India poem being translated into Mandarin, leading to the loss of the essence of the poem in the process. Whilst it can be argues that translation enriches our contextual understanding of culture, history and society, the extent to which this is authentically achieved is subjective and dynamic.