Creativity Quote by Harold G. Henderson
““An ideal translation should, I believe, reproduce the effect of the original, but I have found that the best any translator can even hope for is to reproduce the effect that the originals have had on him. (Preface, vi)””
About This Quote
Source Preface to "Translation Studies", 1975
A translator can only convey the original’s impact on the translator, not the original itself.
In simple terms: Translation mirrors the translator’s experience.
Seek faithful, personal translation.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- literary translation
- subtitling
- interpretive work
- cross‑cultural communication
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal bias affect translation?
- Can a translation ever be truly neutral?
May limit objective fidelity.