Why is literary translation important

Reading works in translation — whether it's the latest Scandinavian crime novel or a recent autobiography of a political activist — helps foster a generation that is able to work in the world without being trapped in a single language. Share on Facebook. Share on Twitter. Download PDF. The power of poetry. Number 10 and the novelist. The imagination police. It contributes to economic growth It is counter-productive to be confined to a single language only.

This is why literary translation is vital for establishing an understanding of economic competition and financial decisions. Translation of literature leads to a greater understanding of issues such as literacy. This, in turn, makes economic growth easier to achieve. Moreover, reading of works in translation, be it a Scandinavian novel or an autobiography of an environmental activist, leads to fostering a generation that speaks and understands different languages.

Moreover, having a skill in a second language enables graduates to communicate confidently in global societies. This, ultimately, contributes to economic growth and progress. It makes good leaders and thinkers who improve the economic situation of that region as well as the target region.

The Last Word Translation of literary work may seem like a tough task, but it is a creative one that is interesting in itself. A translate book or poem may attract readers and enthusiasts of other regions who might have wished to get their hands on the translate versions.

However, the translation of literary text should contain certain elements so that they can be read across the globe. The translation should preserve the original expression of the literature. It might be possible not to be able to convert the whole reading experience, but the essence of a text can be translate into other languages.

Moreover, a literary translation expert should have a clear understanding of the cultural nuances of the target market. This will help him in striking a chord with the local reader community. Please enter your personal details and we will contact you shortly. Need a translation service? Words translated by CCJK , , Get Free Quote. All rights reserved.

This can be particularly challenging when it comes to translating poetry. Poems are written with incredible attention to detail. Not only are the words and phrases important, but the number of syllables and the entire rhythm of the completed work.

Daniel Hahn, director of the British Centre for Literary Translation, sums up the issue beautifully:. All languages are different. As literary translators will attest, a single word can be extremely troublesome. The author of a work of fiction has chosen that word for a good reason, so the translator must ensure that it is faithfully delivered in the target language.

However, what if no direct translation is available? Or what if several options exist, each with a slightly different nuance?

Urdu language translator Fahmida Riaz outlines her approach to such thorny issues:. I try to retain the ambience of the original culture, rather than the language, as it is reflected in the text. Translating novels is just as tricky as translating poetry — and can often be more so.

Best-selling author Patrick Rothfuss explains that it is not just the length of the text involved which is problematic:. This is because real names tend to accrete and evolve over time. Names that give a strong impression without actually saying anything. In , the Man Booker International Prize was on par for both the translator of the winning novel and the author, showing how increasingly important literary translation is becoming in our world. Today, that division is the most productive publisher of translated fiction in the United States, covering 15 languages in , including Hebrew, Indonesian, Finnish, Chinese, and Russian.

The growth in literary translation is an exciting one, and it seems to bode well for the future. In our modern society, translation of literature is playing a bigger and bigger role, and Amazon has become well positioned to play a big part in promoting the sharing of literary works between countries. With so many economic, religious, cultural, and political injustices and schisms in our world, it seems that anything that could bring us closer to understanding one another certainly deserves some sort of celebration.

As your business expands and looks to international customers to boost revenues, the need to have translated websites that they can understand increases. But, have Those handsome sea-faring men charted the course Though, translation Sign-up with Client Portal - Organise translation projects, add requests and estimate localisation budgets, all in one place. Blog Why is Literary Translation a Challenge? Why is Literary Translation a Challenge?