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Act Quote by Ken Liu

“When I act as a translator, I am really doing a performance for my fellow Anglophone readers in the West.” quote by Ken Liu
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“When I act as a translator, I am really doing a performance for my fellow Anglophone readers in the West.”

Ken Liu

About This Quote

Source Interview: Discussing translation, Ken Liu, 2020

Translating is a performance aimed at Western readers, shaping their experience.

In simple terms: Translation is an act of performance for a specific audience.

Key Takeaway

Treat translation as a crafted performance.

Themes

translation performance culture audience

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

literary cultural

When to use this quote

  • publishing
  • academic work
  • literary translation

Key Concepts

literary theory cross‑cultural communication

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does performance affect fidelity?
  • What responsibilities do translators have?
A Different Perspective

May overlook original cultural nuances.

4.9 out of 5 (9 ratings)

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