Translated Texts

Language is the main component of culture in a particular place, so when one translates, one could feel as if they are creating a cultural tie between one country and the other and narrowing the gap. It is important to note that being a translator requires you to go beyond mere literal meaning, but also to consider common phrases, metaphors, and idioms specific to the language as it could drastically change interpretation of a phrase. The author of the quote we examined in class believes she’s a smuggler, which refers to people who cross people over to immigration in another country, which could essentially mean that he is clarifying to foreign people. Studying literature in translation holds great global value as it sheds more light on the original culture within the text. In my particular article, a poet named Feng Tang took the arduous task of translating a revered Indian poet’s work. His translation was flawless, succinct, and much better organized except for the fact that he inserted 5 sexually connoting words. The article depicted how there is a generational gap in interpretation of traditional texts. The controversy arose over a translation seen as taboo for conservative critics. Language reflects a transition, and an overall change in mindset in respective eras. A translation is not to be taken literally; in fact, it varies by person to person on the mere basis of personal interpretation. This part of the course relates to our study of the Thief and the Dogs as Mahfouz manages to capture the consciousness of Egyptian culture at the critical period after the Egyptian revolution. The fact that The Thief and the Dogs was originally written in Arabic, it is inevitable that in our study of the text of the English, certain meaning is lost which can be easily discerned by the class given that there is a large majority of Arabic speakers which can provide further insight on certain euphemisms or expressions.