International Translation Day
International Translation Day is the annual event for the translation community. Today the event is being marked with a day long conference of events in London with all those involved in the translation field from publishers, librarians, bloggers and of course translators there to discuss this amazing industry in each and every way.
Translation is one of the most wonderful skills that I’ve seen from both sides of the fence. Translating myself has enabled me to discover worlds I never would have accessed otherwise, learn new languages of course and become quite good at the odd crossword. What it’s really given me however is the chance to meet such fascinating people from across the world, learn new opinions and ways of life, understand and learn more of the world, and read more books.
But when it comes down to it, I’ve always thought translation was quite magical – words in one language would become words in another – sounds in another, meaning in another. I’ve said many times that the novel Around the World in 80 Days inspired this website. But it’s Passepartout who inspired me to translate. The character with the funny name, a side kick in the novel became my idol, someone I wanted to be, who could speak two tongues, live across worlds and have access to many more. When I discovered the meaning of the name – “Goes everywhere” , well that was me totally enchanted.
Learning French became my goal and I started to read books, children’s books mainly, to get proper French texts that weren’t going to tell me how to say “Hello my name is Jacqueline and I live in La Rochelle’. These were the stories French children read, not always the same books we did in England, but French fairytales and legends. I also found dual texts where stories written in French on one side an English on the other. How they helped! I was glued to these for years and still have them! I can’t explain how exciting it felt to be able to read the English and the ‘funny text’ on the right hand side – as if I had a key that opened a secret door to somewhere new…
Just a few of the translated fiction I love – from both sides of the translation fence
As I got older and went to live in France, I saw how the language really breathed and lived day to day – bartering at markets, navigating the minefield of speaking to strangers or friends, learning the symbolism of Petanque. Translation was not just about words but the meaning and significance behind them – small talk, body language, nuances – it’s a minefield at times trying to interpret what someone is saying. Words are just the start of it.
Translators are therefore like magicians – waving a magical translation wand and giving an insight into a new world, culture, people and more. Reading books either in the original language or in translation shows you two worlds, two ways of seeing that world and allows a novel and author to reach a whole new audience. They shape a great story into another one – and keep stories, culture, words and history alive.And most of all they allow for communication and understanding to flourish.
Which is why I am grateful to translators who allow me to access languages I can’t. I open up a book written by a Chinese author and have experienced more of Chinese history and culture for example that I ever could have hoped for without their help. They’re like literary tour guides of a sort – as well as the author – they are the Passepartout who stands in the background, sometimes in the shadows, but without them, you would soon know that they weren’t there. But without them the author would themselves be in the shadows, so step forward literary translators everywhere.
That’s why I love translators, translation and think International Translation Day should be celebrated. Cheered. Championed.
Susan Booktrailer
You can find out more about International Translation Day at British Library ITD
