I am learning the notion of fidelity in translation is quite complex. There is rarely a one-to-one meaning between languages, in terms of the literal definition of a word and the cultural engagement with the word, much less of a direct correlation when you consider strings of words and literary devices like idioms or metaphors. Even within the same language, we run into the difficulty of being understood when each reader comes with an entire lifetime of experience and perspective that will never be a 100% match that of the writer.
Until I read Deborah Smith's account of attempting to translate The Vegetarian, I was partial to the view that she had made unforgivable errors in her translation. From some perspectives, it seemed her willing erasure of moments like the sister's jealousy or shifting moments into sounding more feminist as a way to "strengthen Han's own feminism" seemed like a great unfaithfulness to the text and, in a way, erased the voice of the initial author, as a means to Smith's own end And while I am aware that all translation requires a significant amount of creativity, as an attempting, amateur, barely-know-what-I-am-doing translator, I lean heavily towards attempting everything in my power to preserve the voice and meaning of the original author. Whether or not we agree or think there are places the original author could have improved.
That being said, after reading Smith's reiteration of her experience, it felt much more like she had done all she could to honor the original author and was aware of the many imperfections and her own limitations. Without Smith, we would not even be having this conversation. Without imperfect translators attempting to translate, there would be so many great pieces of art that would not be able to be experienced by other audiences. Even if those translations are a part of the whole and missing some of the original voice and meaning, or if it is somewhat distorted, we get a chance to read and engage with something not previously available to us, which I feel is quite special.
Translation feels like an archeological dig. With each translation, the amorphous shape becomes less and less a crude image and a more full picture of the original work. Deborah Smith discovered and gave us a crude shape of The Vegetarian, and now we get the opportunity to pick away with close care to better reveal what is at hand.
"I hope we all keep talking about translation because there’s always more to say, especially about what a joy it is, and because we need to put our heads together if we’re to ensure that it lives up to its potential — to disrupt hegemonies, work across difference without erasing it, and challenge the myth of the lone genius — while also enabling new audiences for voices and perspectives that might otherwise be silenced or spoken over, and works of art without which all our lives would be diminished." - Deborah Smith.
Lauren
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