An Israeli tradition tells the story of a prophet who was passing by a net when a bird nearby said to him “ Have you ever seen a man so simple as the one who hung this net to trap me?” The prophet walked away. On his way back he found the bird trapped in the net. “How strange” he said “Weren’t you just saying something to me a few moments ago?” “Prophet” the bird replied, “ when the time comes we can’t see nor hear.”
Above you’ll find, in all its glory, group 4’s translation. Good team work =)
Earned Heaven
The day of the final judgment. God judges each and every man.
When He calls Manuel Cruz, He says:
-Man of little faith, you did not believe in me. Therefore you will not enter paradise.
-Oh Lord, -Cruz replies-, it’s true my faith has not been much. I’ve never believed in you, but I have always imagined you.
After listening, the Lord responds:
-Very well my son, you will enter heaven; but you will never have the certainty of finding yourself in it.
Gabriel Cristián Taboada (Buenos Aires, 1972).
Grupo 5: Lilyana, Erika, Magda, Cindy, Laura.
I strongly agree with Mishelle Fare that in order to analyze a translation work, we need to take into account three important elements: Time period, writing style and background of the writer.
Through out the four version of the translation of Don Quijote we can perceive the different writing style of the writer as well as the use of descriptive language. John Ormsby: Don Quixote (1885) translation, used words that make the story sound weir. For instance, lean hack, mutton, doublet…Well, that how it sounded to me when I first read it. I am sure that his writing style and language had captivated the reader of his time. Therefore, I agree with Mishelle Fare that Edith Grossman, (2003) translation is written in modern, simple and contemporary language. By doing so, Edith made her translation work more attractive to us that are the reader of her time.
Nevertheless, the background of the writer play an important role in his work. In the first place, we know for a fact that writers in England, in America or in Spain will aim their work to their people, meaning to the native country of the writer. Therefore they will use the most common language of their aimed market. Hence, the same translation of a word will not suit in every case.
Thus, the translator with the used of language are not only telling the story but trying tell the story as close to the original as possible in their place and time period.
Lucy Riera
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The promise of the king
Tostig, brother of the Saxon King of England, Harold, son of Godwin, coveted the power and allied with Harald Sigurdsson, King of Norway. ( He had fought in Constantinople Africa, his banner was called Landoda, Bleak Land, he was also a famous poet) With a Norwegian army they embarked on the east coast and surrended the castle of Jorvik. To the south of York they were confronted by the Saxon army. Twenty riders were gathered into the ranks of the invader,men and horses were dressed in iron. One of the riders screamed, is the count Tostig here? I do not deny being here,said the count. If you really are Tostig , said the rider .I come to tell you that your brother offers you his forgiveness, their frienship and the third part of the kingdon. Yes I accept, said Tostig- what will the king give to Harold Sigurdarson? He has not forgotten him, said the rider. He will give you six feet of English land, and since it is too high one more. So said Tostig tell your king to fight to the death. The riders returned. Harald Sigurdarson ask thoughtfuly who was the gentleman who also spoke very good? He was Harold ,Godwin son before the sun set that day the Norwegian army was defeated Harold Sigurdarson die in the battle and also the count.
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
The Judgment
That night, during the hour of the rat, the emperor dreamed that he had left his palace and in the darkness he walked through the garden, under the trees in bloom. Something knelt at his feet and begged for protection. The emperor agreed, the supplicant said that he was a dragon and that the stars had revealed to him that the following day, before nightfall, Wei Cheng, the emperors minister, will cut off his head. In the dream, the emperor swore to protect him.
Upon waking, the emperor asked for Wei Cheng. He was told he was not in the palace, so the emperor sent for him and had the minister occupied the whole day so he would not kill the dragon. Towards the evening, he suggested they play chess. The game lasted quite some time and the minister grew tired and fell asleep. A roar shook the earth. Shortly after, two captains stormed in carrying a huge dragon head soaked in blood. They threw it at the emperors feet and shouted:
-It fell from the sky!
Wei Cheng, who had awoken, looked at it with perplexity and observed:
-How strange, I dreamed I killed a dragon just like this.
A God Abandons Alejandria by Bioy Casares y Borges
Antonio, besieged by César’s troops, it is said that that night, the last when the city of Alejandria was in major silence and alarm, with the fear and hope of what was going to happen, the agreed echo’s of many instruments were heard gradually and claims of a great crowd with songs and satirical dances as if a restless group of local Baccantes were passing by: that this crowd parted like the center of the city, toward the door where the enemy would camp, and by exiting that way, the happy mob, that had been very large, vanished. To those who believe those things it seemed to be a signal given to Antonio that he had been abandoned by Baco: that God whom he always said to be alike and in whom he trusted fully. Plutarco, the lives of the illustrious men.
Alejandra, AJ, Cesar, Karen, Rocio
El modesto misterio es el blog de SPA4004: Introducción a la traducción literaria, de Profa. Esther Allen. Aquí vamos a compartir nuestro trabajo durante el semestre de otoño, 2013.