Quote by Paul Goodman
To translate, one must have a style of his own, for otherwise the translation will have no rhythm or nuance, which come from the process of artistically thinking through and molding the sentences; they cannot be reconstituted by piecemeal imitation. The problem of translation is to retreat to a simpler tenor of one's own style and creatively adjust this to one's author.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the importance of a translator having their own unique style in order to effectively convey the rhythm and nuances of the original text. The act of translation should involve a thoughtful and artistic process of molding the sentences rather than simply imitating them. The challenge lies in finding a balance between maintaining the translator's individual style and creatively adapting it to accurately represent the author's intentions. It suggests that translation requires a skillful retreat to a simpler form of expression while remaining true to the original work.
Topics
Translation
By Paul Goodman