Books Quote by Chinua Achebe
“If someone said, I want to translate your novel into Igbo, I would say, Go ahead. But when I write in the Igbo language, I write my own dialect. I write some poetry in that dialect.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing Translation, 1990
Translating a work respects the original language, but writing in a native dialect is an act of personal expression.
In simple terms: Translation respects the source; writing in dialect is personal.
Key Takeaway
Honor the original, then express your own voice.
Themes
translation
authorship
language
cultural identity
Mood
thoughtful
pragmatic
Type
literary
cultural
When to use this quote
- publishing in a new language
- writing poetry in dialect
Key Concepts
cultural preservation
creative freedom
literary adaptation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you maintain authenticity while adapting?
- What responsibilities do translators have?
A Different Perspective
Balancing fidelity with personal style can be challenging.
