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Hey those are short Ellestra Send a noteboard - 01/12/2010 03:44:42 AM
When I do translations for publication, I start with an initial translation that is as close to word-for-word as possible. Then I seek to "Americanize" it in order to preserve the spirit of the passage as much as possible. Although I may be mistaken having translated from a translation, but I suspect Sapkowski would be easier for many Anglo-Americans to "get" than certain Latin American writers because of the content of the jokes. There HAS to be a "well, Ciri, a dwarf, and a unicorn walk into a bar" joke out there, right? :P


Sapkowski knows a lot of languages and read a lot of fantasy in English before he started writing (beside everything else he read) so all the references and takes on stereotypes should be easy to get. If the English translation lacks all the humour it is sad indeed :(

One of Poland's best translators said that a translator has to be proficient in the language s/he translates from but must be a master of the language s/he translates to. This is probably why the best ones are poets and writers themselves.

I agree. My mastery of English was very good to begin with, but after a few years of occasional draft translations, it has improved quite a bit. Just finished a series of excerpts that I translated from Portuguese into English and a Brazilian writer/translator friend of mine corrected only a typo and made a title suggestion change. Apparently I got things right the first time, as I did "Americanize" some of the expressions used. But rendering Bulwer-Lyttonesque prose into English was a slog xx(


Well, practice makes perfect :D

I think that liking the source material also help. I know that the Malazan translator is also a fan. Same with the Pratchett one. I suppose this makes you really want others to enjoy it as much as you did.
Evolution, just like gravity, works even if you don't believe in it.

Stupidity doesn't hurt but it kills.
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Andrzej Sapkowski, Times of Disdain/Tiempo del odio Larry - 27/11/2010 03:24:22 AM 1267 Views
Bizarre that you would go to a Spanish translation (A translation note) Tom - 27/11/2010 04:05:28 PM 699 Views
Not really, when that's the only complete translation available in a language I read Larry - 27/11/2010 06:54:18 PM 761 Views
It's an interesting discussion about that title... "disdain" is indeed somewhat weak. Legolas - 27/11/2010 06:35:14 PM 761 Views
When I have time later tonight, I'll translate the relevant passage near the end of the book Larry - 27/11/2010 06:57:23 PM 791 Views
Re: Andrzej Sapkowski, Times of Disdain/Tiempo del odio wahooka - 27/11/2010 09:37:07 PM 831 Views
The main reason why I lean toward "hatred" is later on Larry - 27/11/2010 09:43:43 PM 801 Views
Yeah, there may be a slight difference between Czech and English meaning of the word wahooka - 28/11/2010 10:49:23 AM 766 Views
Makes sense to me Larry - 28/11/2010 07:13:08 PM 828 Views
Now for that passage near the end of the book I said I'd post Larry - 28/11/2010 02:35:38 AM 755 Views
Hm. I'd actually say it makes me more inclined to think "contempt" is right after all. Legolas - 28/11/2010 10:50:09 AM 831 Views
I didn't quote what happened immediately afterward, as that is a major spoiler Larry - 28/11/2010 07:16:39 PM 723 Views
Fair points. *NM* Legolas - 29/11/2010 12:26:28 AM 394 Views
Re: Now for that passage near the end of the book I said I'd post wahooka - 28/11/2010 11:03:18 AM 758 Views
Re: Now for that passage near the end of the book I said I'd post Ellestra - 29/11/2010 01:12:58 AM 628 Views
Larry - 29/11/2010 04:53:12 AM 768 Views
I find it funny that all the discussion in the thread is about the best translation of the title. Stephen - 28/11/2010 10:17:44 PM 706 Views
Actually, it also plays a key role in the action of this book Larry - 29/11/2010 12:47:19 AM 854 Views
Oh, I'm just surprised one word can be that important Stephen - 29/11/2010 01:03:48 PM 654 Views
Time of Contempt is closest to original meaning Ellestra - 28/11/2010 11:42:56 PM 816 Views
Perhaps, but there's been a weakening of "contempt" in English over the past few generations Larry - 28/11/2010 11:55:16 PM 886 Views
Re: Perhaps, but there's been a weakening of "contempt" in English over the past few generations Ellestra - 29/11/2010 12:47:12 AM 840 Views
True, to a large extent at least Larry - 29/11/2010 04:57:00 AM 1073 Views
You made me want to go and reread this again Ellestra - 29/11/2010 12:07:46 AM 810 Views
I'm in the midst of re-reading The Tower of the Swallow Larry - 29/11/2010 12:32:23 AM 900 Views
Re: I'm in the midst of re-reading The Tower of the Swallow Ellestra - 29/11/2010 01:05:30 AM 840 Views
Re: I'm in the midst of re-reading The Tower of the Swallow Larry - 29/11/2010 05:02:48 AM 833 Views
Re: I'm in the midst of re-reading The Tower of the Swallow Ellestra - 29/11/2010 04:39:02 PM 865 Views
Still, seeing as many as six consonants together can be intimidating for some of us Larry - 29/11/2010 11:37:22 PM 878 Views
Re: Still, seeing as many as six consonants together can be intimidating for some of us Ellestra - 30/11/2010 02:27:03 AM 839 Views
I refuse to give the Germans credit when it comes to language and grammar issues! Larry - 30/11/2010 03:04:30 AM 1005 Views
I don't see why; except maybe page long nouns Ellestra - 30/11/2010 04:22:37 PM 1052 Views
I dunno, some people dig saying "Machtübernahme" and "Größerdeutschland" Larry - 30/11/2010 05:53:43 PM 868 Views
Hey those are short Ellestra - 01/12/2010 03:44:42 AM 890 Views
I REALLY can't wait for this to come out in English dacole - 30/11/2010 04:50:56 AM 822 Views
Re: I REALLY can't wait for this to come out in English Ellestra - 30/11/2010 03:45:33 PM 831 Views
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