Biblical Quote by Etgar Keret
“When my works are being translated, I always get this question from my translators: Up or down? Which means, should it sound biblical and highbrow, or should we take it all down to sound colloquial? In Hebrew, it's both all the time. People in Israel would write in a high register, they wouldn't write colloquial speech. I do a special take on colloquial speech.”
About This Quote
Translators grapple with tone: high literary versus colloquial; Hebrew blends both.
In simple terms: Balancing high and low register in translation.
Key Takeaway
Adapt tone to preserve original voice.
Themes
translation
language
tone
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
linguistic
creative
When to use this quote
- publishing
- language education
- global literature
Key Concepts
literary translation
cultural nuance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide the appropriate register?
- What impact does tone have on reader perception?
A Different Perspective
Finding a perfect balance may be impossible.
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