Problems involved in translating literature

thought and sentiment. Examine some of the difficulties involved in accurately translating works of literature.

Translation according to Newmark (1988: 5) 'is rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text'. Thus it can be said that the translator is the mailman of human thought as he is delivering to us information and literature, that we otherwise may not have had access to.

As a means of communication, translation is used for multilingual notices, for tourists, official documents, textbooks and instructions. It has been instrumental in transmitting culture, allowing us to sample their ideas, literature and ideologies, and perhaps even adapting to some of them. Translation has also preserved certain languages, (such as Latin), historical events, and classic works of literature (Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Homer) as well as permitting us to learn foreign languages.

However accurately translating works of literature can accumulate a lot of problems. These include problems with language, such as interpreting grammar, punctuation, words, figurative language and irony, as well as problems with cultural (and

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The coinage of new words, the disappearance of others, words with wide meanings, nonsense words, figurative language and irony as well as cultural and sub-cultural issues can all prove to be a challenge for the interpretor. For example, the English on cricket 'howzzat', or the Italians on pasta and wine. ' (Steiner, G: 1975: 21) In fact, some do survive, however a lot disappear, and hear lies one of the problems for a translator. However, I realise that there is so many difficulties that a translator has to overcome in order to achieve an accurate translation. sub-cultural)differences, such as dialect, idioms and cultural focus'. They have to be on their guard to prevent themselves from interpreting the original text differently to its actual meaning and they need to be sure that they reach a certain degree of naturalism. If he was to interpret the figurative language literally, it may look grammatically correct to the target reader but it may not make sense. Take for instance an African tribe, when communicating to an interpreter they described a horrific armoured monster who devoured men, after showing drawings and many hours of communication, the translator came to the conclusion that they were talking about a rhinoceros and when he presented them an animal book displaying its picture they gasped and screamed in terror before running away from him.

Also many gestures and habits used in one culture as a sign of goodwill may be seen as distasteful, even rude, in another (e.

The problems faced by translators are immense, especially in regards to language, as language is always changing. It is not enough just to fluent in their language, (and of course your own), you need to be able to portray the message the original author was trying to communicate in an unbiased manner. Also a problem may arise when expressing personal language as opposed to social language and idiolects come into play.

Common topics in this essay:
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Approximate Word count = 1850
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

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