I found that the readings this week provided valuable insight into the process of translating between two vastly different languages, in the capacity of things such as grammar, sentence structure, and nuance. One of the things that struck my as particularly interesting was Philip Gabriel's statement on the difference in sentence structure between Japanese and English; how translation from Japanese to English and the subsequent shift from verbs at the end of the sentence to the beginning, was sort of like giving away the punch line. There is an abundance of small nuances to consider during translation and that is precisely the reason why different translators such as the mentioned Philip Gabriel and Jay Rubin can put forth such varying styles with their translations even though they originate from a single author.
The interview with Rubin and Gabriel was particularly interesting especially since we were able to take a peek into the mindset of both translators and the strategies employed to face specific challenges. It was sort of alleviating to find out that even professional translators such as the two often face difficulties with communicating the subtleties of an author. Even if having asked for clarification or familiarizing oneself with the author's past works, there is no guarantee that you're providing the "unalloyed original". Though, I did find the strategy described by Jay Rubin to be particularly compelling; to try and see if the translated work evokes the same emotions when reading in your native language as it would in the original language. Overall, the readings this week were quite enjoyable and thought-provoking.
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