Aspects of a good literary translation

 

Literary translation is beautiful but also a complex task when done between languages. The art of literary translation is challenging and requires more than just a literal translation; a translator must have a deep understanding of both languages and cultures, as well as a sensitivity to the nuances of the literary style. Here are some characteristics of a good literary translation:

-Literary fidelity: This quality is the hardest to achieve because it has to preserve the original idea and topic, which involves things such as tone, voice, rhythm, and flow. The translator carries out these special qualities that ensure fidelity to the author’s piece of work and recreate the aesthetic experience of the original text for the target audience.

- Naturalness of expression: The goal is to keep the reader engaged in the new language version of the work. The translator of a literary work should strive for the recreation of a smooth and natural written text, without sounding forced or awkward.

- Linguistic extensions: The linguistic extensions are about finding creative solutions to linguistic challenges. The translators have to use their knowledge of both languages to identify equivalents for idioms, metaphors, and other figures of speech.

Occasionally it’s quite challenging to obtain a direct translation, and in those cases the translator needs to develop the ability of expressing the same idea in a way that is natural and appropriate for the target audience.

-Historical or cultural context: It means understanding both the historical period in which the work was written, as well as the cultural values and beliefs of the source culture. To prevent unintentionally offending someone, the translator must also be aware of the target cultural values.

 

Examples:

1)’’One Hundred Years of Solitude’’ by Gabriel García Márquez (Translated by Gregory Rabassa): The capacity of Rabassa’s translation to convey the lyrical writing and magical realism of García Márquez’s original Spanish is frequently. He maintain the novel’s distinct style while deftly navigating its cultural meaning. He explains the meaning of American-specific idioms and cultural references by using language extensions.

2)’’The Odyssey’’ by Homer (Translated by Emili Wilson): Wilson’s translation gave the old text a contemporary feel. She decided to utilize the language that is already in use and to cut down on the quantity of unnecessary information that had been added by earlier translators. Through her work, a new audience can experience the ancient book in a more approachable way.

3)’’The Tale of Genji’’ by Murasaki Shikibu (Translated by Edward Seidensticker): The beauty and nuance of the original Japanese are captured in Seidensticker’s translation, which is regarded as a literary translation masterpiece. He took great care to ensure that the work was readable for a contemporary audience while preserving cultural backdrop of the Heian period.

 

The art of literary translation | Natasha Sondakh | TEDxJIS - YouTube