El modesto misterio

The four versions of translations of Don Quijote differ in 1) the time period which they were written, 2) the background of the author writing them 3) and through the individual style of the author.

 As discussed in class, depending on the time period in which it was produced, we see with each translation a reflection of that time period through certain vocabulary, language, and style of writing.  What we understand today in modern day English is not how people would speak or read in 1885, 1949 and vice versa. In the most recent translation by Ellen Grossman (2003) the writing is modern, simple, and easy to understand for todays readers. In older versions the vocabulary is outdated and intended for an audience living in that time period. This is why hundreds of translations were produced over the years since the book was first written in order to make the story relevant  & contemporary and also to engage the reader in a story he/she is able to understand. A contemporary translation of a classic will inevitably feel dated in a way that a modern translation will not even if the modern translator has attempted to use language that reflects the era of the original.

Secondly, we discussed that the background of the author is equally important to the type of translation produced. John Rutherford, for example, is a British author while Ellen Grossman is American. The type of English used to create each version is specific to the type of English used and understood by their respective readers. The same is true for other languages such as Spanish and Portuguese. Readers from Mexico and readers from Argentina are going to understand a completely different Spanish therefore it is essential that there are translations specific for each group. In addition, the context, vocabulary and the style of writing are all taken into consideration when localizing a book.

Finally, the style of writing by the author is very important.Before a translation is made, decisions have to be made about the target audience and what kind of style suits them best. For example, some translators might want to stress readability over absolute correctness or vice versa. In addition, sometimes the translator has to forgo their own personal style, nor would they put too much of their own creative ideas into it as to lose the authors.

-Mishelle Farer