translation

Daniel,
A translation is always a re-telling. You have to bear in mind that
translating a legal, technical or scientific text is quite different from
translating a piece of literature. And interpreting is also a different
situation. The translator's job is to bridge the cultural gap AND to convey
(in this case) Holden's mannerisms, reactions, etc. in such a way that the
character remains the same. That's why the translator's task is not easy.
I'm not saying that the translator should "sterilize" the story, what I'm
saying is that much is lost when the translator hasn't got the courage to
depart a bit from the original, when necessary. I wouldn't imagine Holden
speaking like an argentinean boy, with argentinean mannerisms and slang.
That's why when I first started reading CITR, it sounded too Spanish for me
and this "hispanidad" took me out of the story.
I'll give you an example: it sounds quite funny when the phrase "superbowl"
is translated into Spanish. I don't know the origin of this translation,
maybe mexican. For us (I'm referring to the spanish spoken in Arg), the
phrase "super tazón" is quite funny. Maybe for mexicans it's OK, I would say
"super copa", it sounds closer to our reality. That's where the translator
has to make a choice and decide. To stick to the original or to depart to
render a better equivalent.

Saludos,
ana

----- Original Message -----
From: Yocum Daniel R Civ 21 CES/CEOE <daniel.yocum@Peterson.af.mil>
To: <bananafish@roughdraft.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 3:12 PM
Subject: RE: new southamerican fish

| Ana, I find your comments interesting. I translate for my family and
| community on occasion for various purposes such as county board meetings,
| land grant issues, legal documents, technical documents, plays, books,
| shows, conversations, etc. But concerning the translation of feelings
etc,
| much is assumed. It all depends on what you think is the translators
| purpose or job. I would suspect that Holden has mannerisms, reactions,
and
| behaviors that are quite often alien to many South Americans today
(compared
| to 1950's US east coast culture). If the translator were to bridge the
| cultural gap in their translation would it remain Holden? Could it even
be

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