In some sense the text and the translator are locked in…
“In some sense the text and the translator are locked in struggle - 'I attacked that sentence, it resisted me, I attacked another, it eluded me' - a struggle in which, curiously, when the translator wins, the text wins too.”
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 a battle; when the translator overcomes the text, the text improves.
In simple terms: Struggle improves meaning.
Key Takeaway
Embrace difficulty to deepen understanding.
Themes
translation
language
creativity
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing
- learning foreign languages
- editing
Key Concepts
linguistics
interpretation
collaboration
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle resistant sentences?
- What does “winning” mean in translation?
A Different Perspective
Overcoming resistance may distort original intent.