Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Are you using it to teach her French, or were you reading an English translation?
I'd always be wary of regarding a translation as a "classic" myself. How much of the original author are you reading, and how much of the translator? Many of Verne's novels were virtually re-written in English translation, and bear only the most superficial resemblance to the French originals.
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What's wrong with the French and other foreigners!
Don't they understand that HarryT is right? Write your stupid foreign books in English, darn you!
I had wanted to study Latin in high school. Alternately, I wanted to learn German. Neither was available at that school. Spanish and Italian classes were filled. So I took a little French.
But what do you recommend, Harry? Should we not read a "classic" simply because it was written in a language that we neither speak nor read?
Perhaps the "BEST" translation should be found. And only that version should be published?
The apotheosis solution would be best, but can only be approached by a multi linguistic scholar.
I've read translations of books written in Latin, Greek, Spanish, French, German, and Russian. And I especially like books written in UK English.
But to insist on perfection seems beyond reason for the average person.