Literature is literature. Whether a novel be written in English, Spanish, or French the works of author appeal to their audience. When a text is translated, the context of the story is transformed into a medium where English speakers like us can understand them. But what is so valuable about this? When the author transforms a story by translating it, the study becomes more enriching from the point of view of the translator. Stories being read by different cultures broadens the lens for interpretation and perspectives. Although literature in translation may be seen as beneficial to a larger field of literature, challenges are bound to occur when "transferring" a piece of work into someone else's hands for translation. Although translated works will never fully conform to the original piece of work, a strong appreciation for literature remains to be prominent by showing the evident necessity to share pieces of writing throughout the world.
As a language and literature student, focusing on understanding the background of the author and the setting of the story allows us to understand the struggles and differences of the culture. Furthermore, literature in translation can be seen as a medium for communication done through different unique cultural lenses.
Your post highlighted many of the benefits of studying translated literature however, I feel like you could have gained more depth by also analyzing some of the challenges that may arise in the art of translation.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you mentioned how through studying and learning about the authors background, it can assist us Language and Literature students as our knowledge regarding their work broadens. We will then be able to understand why certain things were mentioned in their work and why others were removed or interpreted differently.
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