Changing Tones and Meanings
I've noticed how often I try to translate something, and realize that the literal meaning of what I end up with is just slightly different from what I originally said in English. The meaning stays the same, but the connotations or the tone change slightly. One of my friends and I are working on changing an English (UK English) script into Spanish, to see how the tone of the scene changes. I think the British "stiff upper lip" in this scene should make for an interesting conversion. Any thoughts on tone changes in general between languages, especially in dubbed/subtitled movies and translated literature?
2 Answers
Your comment/question strikes at the heart of the translator's dilemma. Any reasonably competent translator can handle the usual business correspondence/political speech/uninspired novel. This is simply a matter of conveying the basic meaning. When we get into the area of great poetry/plays/prose the problem is much more difficult.
Really good literature does not simply say something (convey a meaning) it is overloaded with references to the culture/history of the author/audience. It says something in a very special way and the way it is said resonates with the reader (because of shared, culture). Because cultures differ, this is often impossible to translate.
samdie wrote:
Really good literature does not simply say something (convey a meaning) it is overloaded with references to the culture/history of the author/audience. It says something in a very special way and the way it is said resonates with the reader (because of shared, culture). Because cultures differ, this is often impossible to translate.
Which is why many books that have been translated from Spanish (or maybe any other language) have been just horrid, for me at least.
I am often amused when people ask for 'literal' translations, and I'm left wondering 'why?'
