Translating Literature: Practice and Theory in a Comparative Literature Context

by André Lefevere

Designed for courses on literary translation, Translating Literature discusses the process and the product of literary translation, incorporating both practical advice for translators and theoretical discussion on the role translations play in the evolution and interpretation of literatures. Exercises and examples highlight problems in translation.

Genres: Nonfiction

165 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 1992

Reviews

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book before beginning my masters program in translation in the hope that I would gain some insight for what would be coming, but I think that was premature. Luckily, I had only made it through the first half and finished the second (and I think more important) half after my first semester and so understood it more clearly. But this seems to be a book better suited as a companion guide to a course on literary translation rather than solo reading, and so I think it will be more of a benefit to me later on as a reference than it has been so far in a straight reading. That being said, there are many useful insights and even some humor, even though some of his examples seem tedious.

[Jim]

Good, straight-forward analysis of the process, the work. Not particularly concerned with the theoretical issues. A good place to start, but then read Venuti!

[Dusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lefevere has two purposes in this book: (1) He wants to address the major theoretical/ideological problems faced by translators of literature; and (2) he offers "exercises" in an informal workbook layout that students who use this book in a classroom can refer to, to hone their foundling translation skills.

As a love letter to the art of translation (and to the underground field of translation studies), Lefevere's book is contagiously passionate. When I put it down, I wanted to grab a book, any book, of Spanish or Portuguese or French poems, and just start translating. Odd -- because although I have enjoyed studying translations I have never felt much desire to do the translating myself. Also, and this is the sign of a sympathetic teacher, Lefevere chooses as his examples poems and prose passages that are more than a bit off-color and entertaining to discuss as subjects of translation. The third chapter, for example, is organized entirely around a Catullus poem about a Roman man who beckons a prostitute over to service his gargantuan erection. This isn't a book that I expected would make me laugh.

As a workbook, however, the book falls short. Mostly I say that because it asks us to violate the Number One Rule of Translation: It asks us to translate from our first into our second language (not vice-versa). I imagine it's hard to create a set of translation exercises -- given the number of languages in the world. But although I found the exercises interesting in that they embodied typical translation "problems", I can't say they helped me develop any kind of idea about how to translate them.

As usual, I ask too much. But this is a resourceful book anyway -- one I will probably revisit several times in my career as a graduate student.

[Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very useful bibliography and interesting approaches.