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Of different ways to evaluate translation, whether or not the translator had an agenda against the protagonist of the work they’re translating is a strange crit
by 2devnull 3y ago
Of different ways to evaluate translation, whether or not the translator had an agenda against the protagonist of the work they’re translating is a strange criticism. Personally, I became a fan of Wilson after reading her Euripides, I think it was Trojan women or something. I didn’t know why, but I just really enjoyed reading it. I think her popularity is that she makes the poetry come alive. I don’t know if style is the right word but something like that. Translation is always a set of compromises. Better to have more translations, and for translations to be varied in their goals and methods. Her translations make reading enjoyable for me. She wouldn’t be the translation I would choose for other purposes, but to sit down and enjoy the reading, I like her a lot.
- voldacar 3y agoI don't think it's a strange criticism. As a reader, I shouldn't have to worry about the translator having some kind of weird resentment towards characters in the text.
- watwut 3y agoMy observation is that when it comes to this particular translation, people come out of their way to get offended on behalf of main characters over completely minor decisions. For the record, overall they come across very well. They are interesting. They make sense. They act consistent with situations they are in. They do not get criticized or insulted, nothing like that. But there is this weird assumption from some people that if they do not come like totally perfect alpha heroes in every single subtle situation, it is an ideological agenda against the guys.
- mariodiana 3y agoActually, I'm offended on behalf of Western civilization.
- 2devnull 3y agoWell, if it’s not good then who cares. If it is good, but subversive for lack of a better term, then that strikes me as worthy. Most work done in that spirit is bad because it’s low quality, not just because it’s agenda driven. I’m all for quality over purity, if it gets more people to read and enjoy.
- watwut 3y agoIt is not subversive and I did not said it is subversive. I said people go out of their way to act offended. And very often worh fascinating caveats like "I did not read it" or with "I don't understand original but Google translator of characters name is something nice therefore every single word must be super flattering." And then get offended over passages that are flattering, but I guess not enough.