In praise of translators for the great work they’ve done over the centuries

If you were asked to translate, ‘Sema!’ to English or to any other language for that matter, what would you say? Is it ‘Hello?’ ‘How are you?’ or ‘Say’?

In the late 14th Century, St Jerome translated most of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek to Latin, into what came to be known as the Vulgate Bible. This became the main scripture for most Catholics in Europe for over 1,000 years. It was later adopted by the Church in the 16th Century. Today we celebrate St Jerome, the patron saint of translators, and all translators around the world.

In a lecture titled ‘My Life in Translation’ delivered in London earlier this year by Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o, the great author, described translation as a language on its own.

In the absence of that transit from one language to another, we would not have the privilege of reading a wide range of literature from across the world.

DECISION MAKING

Translation informs the culture of a country, influences thinking and impacts on our individual decision-making. Translation has also played and continues to play a critical role in the rise of European languages, including English, and their cultures as evidenced in the works of Russian, German and French writers, who have reached English-speaking readers through translation.

Yet, if we have furthered the growth of English and embraced it as a national language, why can’t we do the same for our African languages?

Given that the world is now a village — with the rise of the internet and the gig economy — writers should no longer feel compelled to mostly write in English when they can write in their mother tongue and have their work translated.

Above all, writers should not be swayed by prizes that claim to promote African literature, yet the prize comes with the condition that the book must be written in English.

Conversely, where the author has written in English, the work can still be translated to other languages, further contributing to the growth of African literature and adaptation of African languages.

LANGUAGE COURSES

It is, therefore, quite possible for say, Walenisi by Katama Mkangi, to be translated into Mandarin or Yoruba, paving the way for the book to be adopted as part of the language courses in China and Nigeria. And why not?

Easy as that may sound, translation is a skill that has to be so well-crafted that it remains true to the text and intention of the author.

A bad translation can lose a work’s finesse, giving it new and unintended meaning. It also cannot be assumed that translation is an easy undertaking given that one word can have multiple meanings.

Furthermore, as society progresses, words adopt new meanings and the translation may not maintain the true essence of a book unless the translator is well-versed with the language.

What makes it even more challenging for translators is the syntax used by the authors as these may not come across as intended in the adoptive language.

If you think of some phrases in your own mother tongue, you will agree that translating them to English may take away the delivery and impact of the words. If we take Kiswahili as an example, how would you translate, ‘Walitapatapa kwa huzuni’ into English?

GREY AREAS

Of course, if the author is at the translator’s disposal, that would clarify many a grey areas. But where the author is not available, the translator may very well have to consult others for guidance.

Even then, due to subjectivity, each translator will come up with a different translation of the same phraseology.

The absence of the author aside, what is more challenging for translators is that some books can be lengthy and complex, making the work of the translator all the more daunting.

The Italian translation of Finnegans Wake by James Joyce — which is a very complex novel written over 17 years — took 35 years to translate. The French translation of the same book took 30 years.

DIRECT LINK

Lest we forget, the age-old skill of translation which does not come with much glory for the translator compared to the author, is actually the direct link from the author to the readers who do not necessarily speak the  language in which the book was originally written.

In this digital age where Google Translate and Siri are accessible, though not always reliable as translators, let us always remember the outstanding work translators have done over the centuries. Happy International Translation Day!

This article was compiled with the help of a clinical pharmacist. The writer works with international businesses on commercial litigation. [email protected]