on books and translations
Aug. 23rd, 2005 09:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
noelia_gI love reading. I love books.
I've learned how to read when I was four. I skipped all the 'Dog with a Ball' books, mostly because when I was little there was not a lot of them in bookshops, time of comunism and depression and whatnot... But my parents loved books too, and I remember them sitting after dinner, each in their own armchair, each with their own book.
I wanted to read too.
So they taught me letters and words and I started reading whatever was on the shelves in our home, which means that the first book I've ever read was Hobbit.
Which probably explains a lot about me and my mental diseases, as the first film I've ever watched was Star Wars, screw the cartoons.
I was reading everything that I could find, from newspapers to Kafka. And even though I didn't understand, like, 90% of what I was reading, I was reading it.
Then, in second grade of high school (which was... 4 years ago?) my teacher wanted to fail me in English. No, really. She said I can't speak, can't write, and my grammar is awful. Which was kind of true.
But I decided to prove her I can do this. I can learn English. And I did, and somehow during that I've fallen in love with English.
Mostly because I was learning by reading books. First with a book in one hand, dictionary in the other, translating every second word. Reading Pride and Prejudice this way was... interesting.
Then, slowly, without the dictionary, but with more and more enthusiasm.
Now I don't read books in Polish if I can only avoid it.
Why? Because when I read a book in Polish, one that was translated from English, I can tell how it was written in original. And I can tell where the translator fucked up.
Not every one is bad. I love translations by Piotr W. Cholewa (he translates most of the Discworld books). I love, love, love Barańczak's translations of poetry. I can tolerate some other translators.
But when someone changes the names without reason? When someone translates idioms word by word, even though their equivalent in Polish is absolutely different? (like, the Butterfly thing. You know, when you are nervous, or excited, or whatnot, and you feel butterflies inside? There's no such thing in Polish. When someone reads that a main character had butterflies in her stomach he starts to think she stood with her mouth open for too long and something flew in.)
But the thing I hate most is inconsistency.
You can see that in a longer series, where books are translated by different people. One of the most annoying examples is Star Wars series.
There is a ship. It's called Errant Venture in original. In Polish, it's translated correctly. I rejoyce. Then, next book, a ship appears, and it's called (in Polish) Errant Knight. I go 'wtf what ship is that?'. It's Errant Venture alright, just renamed by the translator. Then, next book, the ship is back, with a completely different name.
So, is it that strange that when I go to a bookshop with intent to buy a book, I always check who translated it?
And sometimes, when it's someone whose translations I really, really hate, I don't buy it, even if I really wanted to read this book?
Is it so strange that I spend twice the money I would pay for Polish translation on the books in English?
I don't think it is.
On related news. They published 'Isard's Revenge' in Poland finally. It's the only X-wing book I hadn't read (though I've read Starfighters of Adumar only once :/ ), so I'm pretty much excited. I don't know the translator, though, so I'm pretty scared, too. Let's hope he's one of the good ones... But! New dose of Wedge!
Also, related. GIP! *points at her icon* Coolness, ain't it? Heee!
I've learned how to read when I was four. I skipped all the 'Dog with a Ball' books, mostly because when I was little there was not a lot of them in bookshops, time of comunism and depression and whatnot... But my parents loved books too, and I remember them sitting after dinner, each in their own armchair, each with their own book.
I wanted to read too.
So they taught me letters and words and I started reading whatever was on the shelves in our home, which means that the first book I've ever read was Hobbit.
Which probably explains a lot about me and my mental diseases, as the first film I've ever watched was Star Wars, screw the cartoons.
I was reading everything that I could find, from newspapers to Kafka. And even though I didn't understand, like, 90% of what I was reading, I was reading it.
Then, in second grade of high school (which was... 4 years ago?) my teacher wanted to fail me in English. No, really. She said I can't speak, can't write, and my grammar is awful. Which was kind of true.
But I decided to prove her I can do this. I can learn English. And I did, and somehow during that I've fallen in love with English.
Mostly because I was learning by reading books. First with a book in one hand, dictionary in the other, translating every second word. Reading Pride and Prejudice this way was... interesting.
Then, slowly, without the dictionary, but with more and more enthusiasm.
Now I don't read books in Polish if I can only avoid it.
Why? Because when I read a book in Polish, one that was translated from English, I can tell how it was written in original. And I can tell where the translator fucked up.
Not every one is bad. I love translations by Piotr W. Cholewa (he translates most of the Discworld books). I love, love, love Barańczak's translations of poetry. I can tolerate some other translators.
But when someone changes the names without reason? When someone translates idioms word by word, even though their equivalent in Polish is absolutely different? (like, the Butterfly thing. You know, when you are nervous, or excited, or whatnot, and you feel butterflies inside? There's no such thing in Polish. When someone reads that a main character had butterflies in her stomach he starts to think she stood with her mouth open for too long and something flew in.)
But the thing I hate most is inconsistency.
You can see that in a longer series, where books are translated by different people. One of the most annoying examples is Star Wars series.
There is a ship. It's called Errant Venture in original. In Polish, it's translated correctly. I rejoyce. Then, next book, a ship appears, and it's called (in Polish) Errant Knight. I go 'wtf what ship is that?'. It's Errant Venture alright, just renamed by the translator. Then, next book, the ship is back, with a completely different name.
So, is it that strange that when I go to a bookshop with intent to buy a book, I always check who translated it?
And sometimes, when it's someone whose translations I really, really hate, I don't buy it, even if I really wanted to read this book?
Is it so strange that I spend twice the money I would pay for Polish translation on the books in English?
I don't think it is.
On related news. They published 'Isard's Revenge' in Poland finally. It's the only X-wing book I hadn't read (though I've read Starfighters of Adumar only once :/ ), so I'm pretty much excited. I don't know the translator, though, so I'm pretty scared, too. Let's hope he's one of the good ones... But! New dose of Wedge!
Also, related. GIP! *points at her icon* Coolness, ain't it? Heee!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 03:13 am (UTC)Write the publisher, and complain about the inconsistancies. Translate a few paragraphs of your own.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 03:56 am (UTC)Probably.
But thank you, honey *hugs*
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 05:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 03:41 am (UTC)ROTFLMAO
that's good one
about the translations, you're right and i agree with the predecessor, you should try to find a job in this business. i'm sure that it would be a perfect job for you ;-)
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 03:52 am (UTC)Yeah. So, when they were interviewing people for main roles they made them write Romeo's and Juliet's diaries. And one girl described her first meeting with Romeo like that 'and I felt butterflies in my stomach', of course in Polish.
I was watching an interview with creators on tv some time ago and someone, casting director, or whatever, was talking and talking and talking on how it was amazing imaginery and that they decided to make it a subtitle for the show, and how brilliant it was, yadda.
And I go 'wtf? it's a direct translation of an idiom in English, ya morons!'
My family looked at me strangely...
Maybe because I did yell at the tv in English.
Which happens.
But I'll start worry about it when I yell in English during sex.
...Uhm... I think I'm worried...
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 04:08 am (UTC)LOL
nah, it's good and healthy.
and completely normal :D
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 04:11 am (UTC)Because first - of course. Second - kinda surprising for partner, methinks.
*g*
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 04:18 am (UTC)beside you have to find a man/woman who speaks fluently english and not some poorly educated sheep xD
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 04:25 am (UTC)Mom said that maybe she'll let me go in September.
Hee. :]
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 03:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 03:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 03:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 03:54 am (UTC)But this is one of the most brilliant ones.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 05:23 am (UTC)(The worst thing was The Lord of the Rings - there used to be a perfectly good translation, but then the publisher randomly decided that it was time for a new one and had it translated again. And it sucked so much!)
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 05:46 am (UTC)Your English is really good. I usually forget that you're not from an English-speaking like the rest of my FList is. It's actuaslly better than a lot of English people's is. ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-08-25 02:28 am (UTC)Aww, bless! :D
And I'd just like to add that I think you're English is absolutely superb, it really is. ♥