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Tim Parks's avatar

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.

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Derek Neal's avatar

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.

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Brooks Riley's avatar

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.

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Spencer's avatar

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.

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Leanne Ogasawara's avatar

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!!

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Litcuzzwords's avatar

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.

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