HOLTON’S 10 COMMANDMENTS FOR TRANSLATION EDITORS
(NB: this was lifted from a discussion on why so few Chinese books sell well in English. I am well aware of different Englishes, including Chinglish. My interest was in how difficult it is - for ANY translator - to produce enjoyable and stimulating literary texts of high quality and lasting value.)
WN HERBERT COMMENTS:
This simple set of injunctions ... seems to be applicable by extension beyond the field of Chinese translation, and, metaphorically, beyond the area of translation. I’m sure many writers can think of scenarios where, for instance, an editor, organiser, academic or producer has drafted in the equivalent of the Venerable Swami Holtonanda’s ‘amateur’ to perform in a role for which any writer could suggest ten more competent and talented names.
The significance of considering the audience’s needs & pleasures, and the crafter’s time and comfort, is of course rarely given enough weight by the efficient, cash-strapped manager of any project. Particularly if they allow themselves to be led by an ideology which refuses value precisely to the needs, pleasures, creative time and comfort of non-managers.
(NB: this was lifted from a discussion on why so few Chinese books sell well in English. I am well aware of different Englishes, including Chinglish. My interest was in how difficult it is - for ANY translator - to produce enjoyable and stimulating literary texts of high quality and lasting value.)
- Don’t use Chinese people to translate literature into English, unless they are teamed with a writer who is a native speaker of English and who understands at least some Chinese.
- Don’t use academics who have no track record of writing for the reader’s pleasure.
- Don’t use amateurs! You wouldn’t let an amateur fix your car or take out your appendix, would you?
- Don't imagine that a speaking knowledge of Modern Standard Chinese is the same thing as an understanding of literature (especially classical literature).
- Don't imagine that a PhD in linguistics or classical literature is any guarantee of quality in translating Modern Standard Chinese.
- Don’t assume that you know better than your translator. Listen to the experts.
- Don't ever trust Chinese academics/editors/writers when it comes to the suitability of a text for western audiences: they simply don’t know enough about the western reader’s needs and pleasures.
- Don't forget that speed and quality are mutually exclusive: you can have one but you can never have both.
- Remember that translating from non-European languages is different from translating from French or Spanish or Latin, etc.: it is MUCH harder, and it takes much longer, because the available resources (e.g. dictionaries) are not as well-focused, as easily available, or as plentiful. Be patient.
- Understand that cheap and nasty work will not sell, and hungry or rushed translators will not do a good job. Don’t be cheap – translators eat too!
WN HERBERT COMMENTS:
This simple set of injunctions ... seems to be applicable by extension beyond the field of Chinese translation, and, metaphorically, beyond the area of translation. I’m sure many writers can think of scenarios where, for instance, an editor, organiser, academic or producer has drafted in the equivalent of the Venerable Swami Holtonanda’s ‘amateur’ to perform in a role for which any writer could suggest ten more competent and talented names.
The significance of considering the audience’s needs & pleasures, and the crafter’s time and comfort, is of course rarely given enough weight by the efficient, cash-strapped manager of any project. Particularly if they allow themselves to be led by an ideology which refuses value precisely to the needs, pleasures, creative time and comfort of non-managers.
