[…] Hyun does not believe that such a thing as a “perfect” translation — one where the original and translated texts are exact duplicates of each other and evoke precisely the same feelings — exists.
“When you say ‘perfect,’ you’re already assuming certain standards. What does ‘perfect’ mean? If it means to sound as close to the original text as possible, that’s one thing. But if it means to please the target readers, that’s something else,” Hyun said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Monday at a cafe in downtown Seoul.
For Hyun, it is inevitable that certain meanings and emotions become lost, transformed, and added on during the course of translation — even when the writer and translator are one and the same. More.
See: The Korea Herald
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United States
Local time: 09:22
Russian to English
+ ...
at least we should be aiming at perfection of some sort. As to pleasing clients—well an accurate translation does not necessarily please the clients, at least pleasing should never be the aim of a well done translation—it may be the outcome, at times.
Local time: 08:22
German to English
+ ...
When she says that perhaps only emotion can be transmitted: a bid to tender with description of automotive parts, a birth certificate, or a scientific study - these do not contain any emotion to be transmitted. But a poem or lit... See more
When she says that perhaps only emotion can be transmitted: a bid to tender with description of automotive parts, a birth certificate, or a scientific study - these do not contain any emotion to be transmitted. But a poem or literature, which she translates, does. The whole thing in translation is that we have to weigh several different factors and give greater value to one or the other depending on the nature of the work and its purpose. A legal or scientific text must first of all be accurate, and second of all try to be elegant, but above all be comprehensible. A piece of literature may sacrifice precise detail for the sake of conveying emotion and mood, and in order to preserve the elegance or flavour of the language. Anyone who tries for absolute "perfection" on all fronts is likely to end up with a translation that is odd one way or the other. It is an important notion which is probably why our profs stressed it. ▲ Collapse
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
If there's allegedly no 'perfect' translation, then how about 'standard' translation? Just 'translation'? Would 'just' translation do? Shall we use some other term or definition, say 'localization'? 'Perfect' or 'ideal', or just 'mere', perhaps? What is the purpose and use--both 'perfect' and 'not'?
Isn't something like telepathy the key? Is it relatively 'perfect' or 'absolutely'? Just? Yet won't it render all translation ... See more
If there's allegedly no 'perfect' translation, then how about 'standard' translation? Just 'translation'? Would 'just' translation do? Shall we use some other term or definition, say 'localization'? 'Perfect' or 'ideal', or just 'mere', perhaps? What is the purpose and use--both 'perfect' and 'not'?
Isn't something like telepathy the key? Is it relatively 'perfect' or 'absolutely'? Just? Yet won't it render all translation useless? Perfectly or not?
Oh, my)
[Edited at 2016-06-17 06:24 GMT] ▲ Collapse
Germany
Local time: 15:22
English to German
+ ...
As long as there is no perfect text, there is no perfect translation.
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
Upon this Earth one can travel almost any direction--be it the Sun, a star, an image, or something/somebody else--as far and long as it's ok--almost endlessly, if it’s the real goal. Yet where one would arrive? Imperfect.
Funny translation theories go that fa... See more
Upon this Earth one can travel almost any direction--be it the Sun, a star, an image, or something/somebody else--as far and long as it's ok--almost endlessly, if it’s the real goal. Yet where one would arrive? Imperfect.
Funny translation theories go that far to say there's no such thing as 'right' translation, then how it could be 'perfect' or not?
Why care? ▲ Collapse
Poland
Local time: 15:22
English to Polish
+ ...
And that doesn't take a scholar to know.
It takes a high degree of intellectual laziness to think perfect translation exists. Any person of average intelligence should know better.
Spain
Local time: 15:22
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
...and therefore there is no such thing as a perfect translation.
When you read this sentence, you are reading what you think and feel you are reading, but not what I want you to read. The only perfect communication could -- at least potentially -- exist between you and yourself, but when two people communicate, there are so many components involved that it is a miracle that we manage to get our message across (or at least something that resembles our message to a certain extent).
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