Isn't Borges' widow's problem with the NTDG translations the fact that she got fuck-all money from them, whereas the newer, inferior translations get her royalties?
― Tsar Bombadil (James Morrison), Saturday, 11 April 2020 02:00 (four years ago) link
Seems plausible---anyway, good thread: Borges translation?
― dow, Saturday, 11 April 2020 17:29 (four years ago) link
Even self-translators à la Sam Beckett are not to be trusted. Traduttore, traditore, etc.
― coviderunt omnes (pomenitul), Saturday, 11 April 2020 17:36 (four years ago) link
RIP Edith Grossman
― The Thin, Wild Mercury Rising (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 5 September 2023 12:11 (seven months ago) link
I loved her Mutis translations.
I have big plans to read through Scott Moncrieff's Proust once I'm finished my current French reading (almost done, phew). I'd like to complete all of the major English versions eventually, if I live long enough.
― jmm, Tuesday, 5 September 2023 14:39 (seven months ago) link
RIP, there’s a funny bit in her why translation matters book where she’s complaining about how little most reviewers care about translators & points out the tell that (if they mention it at all) they’ll just write “ably translated by”
― Boris Yitsbin (wins), Saturday, 9 September 2023 22:37 (seven months ago) link
Yup, most journalistic reviews lazily sign-off the quality of translation without knowing both source and target language, instead of trying to evaluate the music of the prose (whether translated or not).
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 9 September 2023 23:32 (seven months ago) link
Surely they know the target language?
― Tsar Bombadil (James Morrison), Sunday, 10 September 2023 10:41 (seven months ago) link
something quasi ironic about retreading the prose of A La Recherche du Temps Perdu. Looking at all the angles covered in the retelling etc?
― Stevo, Sunday, 10 September 2023 11:00 (seven months ago) link
I just love the book, and I think it rewards the attention. If you take a couple years to read it, then enough time will have passed since the first volume that you can pretty much start again right away. The translations give you more to explore.
― jmm, Sunday, 10 September 2023 14:20 (seven months ago) link
― Tsar Bombadil (James Morrison), Sunday, 10 September 2023 bookmarkflaglink
Maybe 🤣
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 10 September 2023 18:49 (seven months ago) link