Not Lost in Translation

Do books get lost in translation? What are some non-English novels you love and are there any that didn’t work over the cultural divide?

Brenda here

This week's question has me thinking. I'm certain that I've read many non-English, translated novels over my lifetime, but the first ones that come to mind are Swedish or Scandinavian mysteries. I've read most of Liza Marklund's Annika Bengtzon series, and Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, amongst others. I've judged some translated passages to read awkwardly, but this has never been a major concern as long as the story flows.

Then there are the South African (Afrikaans) books by Deon Meyer that I've read and enjoyed in translation. His Benny Griessel series is terrific. 

I've, of course, read other translated books, although none immediately pops into my head. I guess that means the translation was good enough not to bother me. As when I watch a foreign film with English subtitles, I get into the rhythm of the text and genre and don't get bogged down by errors as long as the sense of the piece or dialogue isn't lost. The word choices can be charming at times.

I studied French in high school and throughout my government job (even going on French-language training full-time for a year), and know first-hand how difficult it can be to find the word with the exact same meaning in another language. There are often cultural nuances that cannot be dismissed. And let's face it, the English language is a nightmare. (There, their, they're. Double/triple meanings. Slang....)

My view is that translated works can enrich and broaden our own lives - a kind of journey into someone else's world without the need to leave home. Whatever helps to build greater empathy and to bridge commonalities in the human condition is a wonderful thing. Learning about other countries and cultures by way of translated stories, mais c'est magnifique!

And to all my Canadian readers:

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