Imitation Quote by Paul Goodman
“To translate, one must have a style of his own, for the translation will have no rhythm or nuance, which come from the process of artistically thinking through and molding the sentences; they cannot be reconstituted by piecemeal imitation. The problem of translation is to retreat to a simpler tenor of one’s own style and creatively adjust this to one’s author.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Art of Translation," Paul Goodman, 1961
Effective translation requires a personal style; mere imitation lacks rhythm and nuance.
In simple terms: Translate with your own voice, not copy others.
Key Takeaway
Develop a unique voice when translating.
Themes
translation
creativity
style
Mood
analytical
inspired
Type
instructional
creative
When to use this quote
- literary translation
- academic work
- personal writing
- language learning
Key Concepts
linguistics
artistic expression
authorship
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you balance personal style with fidelity?
- What techniques help you find your translation voice?
A Different Perspective
A unique style may clash with the original author's intent.
![“The Sexual plight of these children [those adolescents experimenting sexually] is officially not mentioned. The revolutionary attack on hypocrisy by Ibsen, Freud, Ellis, Dreiser, did not succeed this far. Is it an eccentric opinion that an important part of the kids' restiveness in school from the…” quote by Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b5b/paul-goodman-7755_american-society_the-sexual-plight-of-these-children-thos_88140.jpg)
