Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
I know we're slightly straying from the point, but good translation is as much about what reads well, as what is absolutely literally right. Another example from the Bible, this time the Latin Vulgate:
dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est lux
which is, of course, translated in the KJV as the beautiful:
And God said "Let there be light", and there was light.
Now "fiat" is actually the 3rd person singular passive subjunctive form of "facio" - "to make", so a more accurate translation of "fiat lux" would be "Let light be made", but "Let there be light" is just so much "better" as a translation, even if it's not 100% literal.
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Yea, when I translate I often have to smooth out the English a bit, which makes it a bit easier to understand, but can hide some of the meaning. Its a trade off that is made with each every sentence.