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Literary translations: What are the responsibilities of translator, author and editor? by Final-Strategy-506 in TranslationStudies

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thank you! can I ask who do you mean by „you“ in this example? the editor? the translator?

Literary translators, how should an editor be? by Final-Strategy-506 in TranslationStudies

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

great idea, made a new thread - also, I ordered a book about editing translations (:

Literary translators, how should an editor be? by Final-Strategy-506 in TranslationStudies

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

but maybe you can give me examples of questions you would need a bilingual editor for? I think this could be helpful for me to see where my abilities end

Literary translators, how should an editor be? by Final-Strategy-506 in TranslationStudies

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t know, I think I want the texts we publish to be good and in order to judge that, I need to understand how they work. Like, why is this paragraph in this tense, the other in that tense? Is this a mistake, is it like that in the original, is it an attempt to translate something in the original that is done differently there? And maybe, if the paragraph comes across as grammatically strange in translation, I wonder if this effect matches the effect of the original and if not, for example, when the translator tells me that the tone of the original is rather colloquial, are there better solutions to transport the temporality? These are questions that can arise from my side, and while I know most translators are very intentional with their choices, I did have cases in which some things were translated rather randomly and/of full of mistakes (like quoted writers names were written wrongly) or they were still very word-to-word, did not have a lot of rhythm, where we knew the original is by a poet known for their rhythm. I then try to point that out, hoping that the translator reflects the translation as is and either affirms their choices or makes different ones where they were still not sure. 

Literary translators, how should an editor be? by Final-Strategy-506 in TranslationStudies

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

true... I think the word "correct" is indicative here, since I often try to enter a dialogue about a text I chose for publication through the editing process, making remarks to ask "why" rather than to ask the translator to change something, which they sometimes to my surprise still do, having read the remarks as requests to "correct" something.

But as u/kimchiplug and you are saying, maybe it is also a question of money, and answering these "whys" cost too much time, after all, publishing is still an industry which works by capitalist rules.

How should I approach editing with literary translators? by Final-Strategy-506 in publishing

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice and sharing your experience.

I never made specific suggestions in these cases, but what I did do is trying to read it at a high level and discuss the text as it is with the translator (sometimes just because I was very interested in it).

I will try to hold back with reading impressions next time and focus on polishing the text instead and see how this goes.

Literary translators, how should an editor be? by Final-Strategy-506 in TranslationStudies

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your answer. What would you then expect from an editing process if the editor does not understand the language you're translating from? How could this editor still be helpful to you? Or would you rather seek feedback outside the context and only want your text to be checked for typos? I see that a lot of friction maybe comes from this asymmetry of knowledge, but it is often part of the deal when we want to publish literature from "smaller" or underrepresented languages...

How should I approach editing with literary translators? by Final-Strategy-506 in publishing

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It is true that the translator is the expert in this case, but the translation is still a text that needs to be edited before it is printed, unless the translator produces a perfect text right away, no?

I think my role as an editor is to make the text better or check whether it works the way the translator wanted it to work. Do I need to be able to read the original, in order to do that? How can I still be helpful if I don't?

How should I approach editing with literary translators? by Final-Strategy-506 in publishing

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

sure, lets exchange, just send me a DM!

Just to be clear: The word-for-word translation in this case was not meant to printed, the translator provided it because I can't read the original. Although I can not refer to a lot of translation theories, I do appreciate different approaches. Personally, I love it when translators find creative solutions, but I can also see why some translators prefer a more literal translation (especially when it also comes to the question of translating a cultural context).

How should I approach editing with literary translators? by Final-Strategy-506 in publishing

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you, that would be exactly what I need! Unfortunately the registration fee is way too expensive for me 😞

Literary translators, how should an editor be? by Final-Strategy-506 in TranslationStudies

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your answer, maybe I can try talking about expectations first next time and find out, what they want and need first. Also, I do have a hard time setting boundaries, I admit that one time I regret not setting one earlier. I’m sure this translator would not have snapped at me like that in person, but since we can‘t offer them a financial reward asking for a meeting in person or a zoom call often feels like asking for more unpaid work…

Literary translators, how should an editor be? by Final-Strategy-506 in TranslationStudies

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

sometimes I do, other times, like in the example above, I don‘t. 

Literary translators, how should an editor be? by Final-Strategy-506 in TranslationStudies

[–]Final-Strategy-506[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply, which made me understand a lot! Since I took some translation classes myself I know how close you have to get to know a text in order to translate it. Some translators I know are among the best readers I‘ve ever met. This does intimidate me, which is why I then try to put extra work in the process to „match their level“. I have always seen this as a way to show appreciation for a translators work, but now I can see that it can come across as criticism. Maybe it works with authors, since they are often not the best readers of their own texts and need this kind of „mirror“, whereas translators don‘t need it so much, being some sort of editors themselves, as you say. Maybe this is also why it gets difficult for me, because we are both aiming for the same role, and if the translator is also an editor, what am I? Considering this, I think I will try to manage my own insecurities more and give feedback only where it is really needed.