Translation — not just one author, but millions and millions of authors

It is often said that translation is also a form of writing and that translation is a recreation, which is certainly the consensus among many translation scholars. There are too many masterpieces produced through wonderful written translations, and the relationship between translation and writing is inseparable.

The translation done by a translator with a high level of Chinese inevitably undergoes many improvements. This type of enhancement is unavoidable on many occasions. The linguistic advantage of translation comes from a deep understanding of the original text, resulting in a profound and precise expression in the translation.

Generally speaking, most of the reasons for translation errors stem from misunderstandings, as well as cases of incorrect word usage in expression.

A poor understanding of the original text is almost inevitable; that is, it is nearly impossible not to make mistakes in longer translations. Sometimes, an apparently simple sentence will be misunderstood if one does not pay attention.

Therefore, even though translation is not free from errors, efforts should be made to avoid mistakes.

Moreover, if the original text is beautiful, the translation must also be beautiful; if the original text is concise, the translation should likewise be concise. In other words, it should reflect the style of the original text. The ultimate goal of translation activities is to accurately and fluently express the thoughts of the original author so that readers can be engaged, understand, and accept it.

Secondly, literary talent stems from the artistic success and superior writing skills of the translator, which means both the literary talent and the skill of the translator. This includes the translator's ability to use foreign languages, master various expressions and interpretation skills, as well as the translator's capability to write in their native language, capturing the essence and characteristics of that language.

In a narrow sense, literary talent refers to the ability to craft sentences and utilize rhetoric, based on the unique capability of the translator to control language. Therefore, if the original text is a literary work, the translator must convey that literary talent instead of merely recording the text like a bank account or a robot.

Just like writing, translation and writing must also accumulate linguistic materials: linguistic materials primarily refer to vocabulary, which is also the foundation of the article. An abundant vocabulary is an important sign of a rich language. With a rich vocabulary, phrasing and rhetoric become more effective.

One way to accumulate linguistic material is to learn languages from excellent works. Modern classics, ancient literature, both Chinese and foreign, especially the language of outstanding literary pieces, are worth studying. Each image and expression can enrich our world of words and facilitate the process of translating texts, similar to selecting from a wide range of available materials and fitting them into a framework.

The above highlights the similarities between translation and writing. Inevitably, translation and writing are also very different.

Unlike "writing," which allows people to play freely, the fundamental requirement of translation language is to have a sense of proportion.

The language must be accurate, first and foremost, and the phrasing must be precise. Identifying words also requires distinguishing the emotional undertones of those words accurately, and word choice must be appropriate.

Most importantly, the style of the translation must conform to the style of the original text. In Western literature, the system of genres and writing styles is vast, with many branches and nuances, such as the concise and rigorous literature of classicism, secular realist literature, richly rhetorical romantic literature, and the new styles found in surrealist literature. To distinguish these different genres, the most fundamental point is to start with the writing style and rhythm. Therefore, when translating these excellent works, attention must also be paid to the style of the original text: is it poetic? Always clean? Or is it intense and compact?

To achieve this, modifications and deletions must be moderate. It is emphasized that modification is never allowed indiscriminately, regardless of style or occasion, and should not be done without discernment or abused. Literary talent does not just mean being magnificent, but diverse and full of possibilities.

At the same time, the translator must possess a broad range of knowledge. For example, knowledge of geography, history, and religion. Furthermore, cultural contexts, social conditions, and customs of various ethnic groups differ, which will also be reflected in the language of that group. The translator must understand this.

Translation can be considered a comprehensive skill. Translators are needed across various professional studies and industries, and they must also be familiar with their own specialties, their industry, and other related disciplines.

Overall, a good translator should also play the role of a writer; on this basis, they must be more cautious and accumulate more knowledge. A translator is not just a writer but thousands of writers.

◀️：How to improve translation skills through parallel texts.

▶️：Haruki Murakami: The Translator