49: How translators approach a text (Patreon)

Before even starting to translate a work, a translator needs to make  several important macro-level decisions, such as whether to more closely  follow the literal structure of the text or to adapt more freely,  especially if the original text does things that are unfamiliar to  readers in the destination language but would be familiar to readers in  the original language.

In this episode of Lingthusiasm, your  hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne get enthusiastic about the  relationship of the translator and the text. We talk about the new,  updated translation of Beowulf by Maria Dahvana Headley (affectionately  known as the “bro” translation), reading the Tale of Genji in multiple  translations, translating conlangs in fiction, and mistranslation on the  Scots Wikipedia.

Announcements

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For links mentioned in this episode: https://lingthusiasm.com/post/632086691477323776/lingthusiasm-episode-49-how-translators-approach