My metaphor for translation has always been that…
“My metaphor for translation has always been that translation is really a performance art. You take the original and try to perform it, really, in a different medium. Part of that is about interpretation and what you think the author's voice really is.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Translation is likened to performance, requiring reinterpretation in a new medium while preserving the author's voice.
In simple terms: Translation is performance art, adapting voice to new medium.
Treat translation as a creative performance.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- literary translation
- film dubbing
- stage adaptation
- software localization
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you preserve authorial intent while adapting?
- When does adaptation become a new work?
Balancing fidelity and artistic freedom can dilute original meaning.