Hi Derek, I just came across this piece. Thanks so much for doing the work that gives a clear idea of what happened in the case of this translation, or perhaps adaptation might be the better word. It confirms the suspicions I had when I wrote my NYRB piece years ago. It's interesting that in Italy, Adelphi asked for a sample translation directly from Korean, then rejected it and translated the book from the English translation.
Thanks Tim, it's wonderful to receive a comment from you. And what an interesting bit of information that is...I can't help but wonder what led to that decision.
This is a marvelous exercise, Derek, one that should be done more often--not to browbeat translators, but to encourage them toward a deeper understanding of their interpretive responsibilities.
This is really neat. I can’t help wondering about whether or not it comes down to either the translator’s (and editor/publisher’s) sensibilities and by extension their reader’s sensibilities (in a particular country).. so each version might be something of a reflection of the demographic its being sold to?
Might have to get my tinfoil hat out for all the future translated works I read. I can only read English by the way, still trying to figure out how to write in it too.
Fantastic essay!!!! I really enjoyed this…. I was especially interested that you focused not on Mia-translations or mistakes but a totally different interpretation of a character… loved this!!
Excellent! It reminds me of translations of Rousseau I once compared, most of them by his apologists who tried to smoothe him over. Well written and timely essay, as more translations of Asian texts are available than ever before.
Hi Derek, I just came across this piece. Thanks so much for doing the work that gives a clear idea of what happened in the case of this translation, or perhaps adaptation might be the better word. It confirms the suspicions I had when I wrote my NYRB piece years ago. It's interesting that in Italy, Adelphi asked for a sample translation directly from Korean, then rejected it and translated the book from the English translation.
Thanks Tim, it's wonderful to receive a comment from you. And what an interesting bit of information that is...I can't help but wonder what led to that decision.
This is a marvelous exercise, Derek, one that should be done more often--not to browbeat translators, but to encourage them toward a deeper understanding of their interpretive responsibilities.
This is really neat. I can’t help wondering about whether or not it comes down to either the translator’s (and editor/publisher’s) sensibilities and by extension their reader’s sensibilities (in a particular country).. so each version might be something of a reflection of the demographic its being sold to?
Might have to get my tinfoil hat out for all the future translated works I read. I can only read English by the way, still trying to figure out how to write in it too.
Fantastic essay!!!! I really enjoyed this…. I was especially interested that you focused not on Mia-translations or mistakes but a totally different interpretation of a character… loved this!!
Excellent! It reminds me of translations of Rousseau I once compared, most of them by his apologists who tried to smoothe him over. Well written and timely essay, as more translations of Asian texts are available than ever before.