Cathy
Hirano points out several challenges when translating between Japanese and
English, two languages with very different origins in both sentence structure
and culture. Indeed, preserving the original meaning/tone/humor of a piece of
work while attempting to transcend the barrier of culture requires a lot of
thought. Though I am aware of the difficulties in translating, I am still
amazed by how accurately and concisely Hirano points out the reasons as to why
it is so.
The
languages itself already present a hurdle to interpreting. As Hirano has said, the
order of a sentence requires rearrangement, and often times context or subtle details
might get lost in translation. Personally, I think it would be very hard to not
provide additional explanatory sentences to make up for said loss. I also think that it
is a requirement for the translator to be imaginative in order to be able to set up the same
tone in the same structure in writing, albeit differently, than the original
author.
While talking about the difficulties in culture-specific vocabulary or humor (such as juku or The Buddha), it made me more aware of the differences between a direct translation and the importance of interpreting. I was slightly surprised to hear that translators occasionally seek out the original author for permission to rewrite a joke or dialogue (or even delete it!), with the intention to preserve the meaning the story wants to convey. This makes me more appreciative of the efforts and the innovation required of translators. I can certainly see why interpreting is more strenuous and draining than it may seem.
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