Before last week, it never occurred to me to think of translation as an art form. In fact, most students probably take it for granted when reading famous works in their English classes. But Andrew Zawacki’s unparalleled definition of translation shone a beautiful and artistic light on the overlooked art. When discussing his translations of the poet Sébastien Smirou, Zawacki likened his experience to that of a cannibal; he had to consume the precise and systematic mind of Smirou.  Zawacki explained that the process of translating a living person’s work is much more challenging than someone who is dead and cannot defend their work. The author can question and prod the translator and vice versa, which of course has its benefits and its pitfalls.

One thing that particularly struck me though, was the comparison of translating to interpretation. When we think of translating, or at least when I do, I assume it’s mathematical: for every input, you have an output, but Zawacki explained that it is far from being that simple. Poems intention and meaning are altered completely when translated, he explained, but that is the art of translating; the fact that one’s work shines in a different way then before. This was so fascinating to hear, especially because my brother is a French translator. I had always assumed his work was so easy, but now after hearing how complex and meticulous it is, I can appreciate the different ways of translating one thing.

Another thought that occurred to me is how much power translators hold. Nowadays, maybe not so much, but back in early civilization, translators had the gift of connecting different groups of people and if something was mistranslated, that could be the start of a war or create a lifelong enemy. One item that particularly jumps out is the Bible. After being translated so many times and passed down through centuries, how can we be sure that our interpretation is the intention of the first writers? This is an uncomfortable question, but the Bible is so deeply rooted into society and has caused so much turmoil between religions that I am forced to bring up the Bible and how it was translated.