Quote:
Originally Posted by DiapDealer
Many of things mentioned in this thread are exactly why I've never been comfortable reading any translated work of fiction. The words used are too important to trust to anyone other than the author, in my opinion.
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A translation can never be a replacement for the original. It is by its very nature transformative. It is both a bridge to another culture and at the same time has cultural value all of its own. For example, the translation of
The Good Soldier Švejk became hugely a hugely important touchstone for an entire generation in my culture, partly because it spoke to people living in the systemic absurdity of authoritarian rule, but also because the translation managed to preserve a great deal of the humour and wit of the author, something that cannot be said of the English translation at the time.