My book editing class attended the "Writer as Translator: Translator as Writer" panel today.
Some thoughts gathered there:
1. A translator is like a musician, and the original author is the composer.
Or, in other words, they're both artists. What's more, ten different musicians could play the same piece in ten different ways, but it's still the same song. It's kind of cool to think about. I have 3 or 4 different versions of the song "Gypsy David" (one of which I barely recognized). What if I wanted 3 or 4 translations of Dante? Or Beowulf? Or, for that matter, Harry Potter in Spanish? Actually, what about just the fact that I do have two versions of Harry Potter - Spanish and English?
Just look at the Bible (Isaiah 11:9):
לא-ירצו ולא-ישחיתו בכל-הר קדשי כי-מלאה הארץ דעה את-יהוה כמים לים מכסים
"They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."
"Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD."
"No one will harm or destroy on my entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is filled with water."
"They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."
....and that's just one verse.
2. Writers are translators. They translate reality.
Well, cool. And here I am, translating my memory of a seminar into a blog post.
3. Conversations are translation.
Just think about it. If you ask someone how their day went, and they look at the floor an mumble "Good, I guess," you ask what's wrong. If you ask someone how their day went, and they look you in the eye with a big smile and say "Good!" you smile back and want to hear all about the fun they had. So what does "good" mean?
"You always should do what you cannot do" - Willis Barnstone
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
In case it needs to be said...
Bestseller reviews discontinued due to lack of access to bestsellers due to my Borders closing.
Publishing's Darwin Award
Publishing's Darwin Award
Friday, February 25, 2011
Job Hunt Redux
So I've looked at my budget again, and I think I'm actually okay until I have to pay my final semester's tuition... and I could accept a bigger loan, which would get me a lot closer... but really I suppose I'm going to need another job. So back to the job search I go.
I've talked to the manager at Emerson's B&N, and sent her my resume. I've also asked at church, and plan on making the rounds of the neighborhood again to see if anything I can walk to is hiring. B&N in the mall doesn't seem to be, but it wouldn't hurt to go ask anyway.
Also: internships! The guest speaker at my next editing class works for a company that just might have them! More on that later...
Silver Lining
I've talked to the manager at Emerson's B&N, and sent her my resume. I've also asked at church, and plan on making the rounds of the neighborhood again to see if anything I can walk to is hiring. B&N in the mall doesn't seem to be, but it wouldn't hurt to go ask anyway.
Also: internships! The guest speaker at my next editing class works for a company that just might have them! More on that later...
Silver Lining
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Decision Points
This is a really, really good book. Bush looks at major decisions he made before and during his years as president, and he analyzes them. What was their significance? Why did he choose the way he did? Was he right or wrong? What could he have done instead? The analysis is actually really good, and while I don't know whether or not a political scientist would like the book, the historian in me loved it.
Especially the bit where I was reading about his hopes for Egypt about two days after Mubarak was forced out. I was impressed.
Especially the bit where I was reading about his hopes for Egypt about two days after Mubarak was forced out. I was impressed.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Luxury Is...
indoor, private laundry
a fridge of one's own
a view of the horizon
a boss who respects people
One down, three to go. I'm moving up in the world.
a fridge of one's own
a view of the horizon
a boss who respects people
One down, three to go. I'm moving up in the world.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Bit Damp for Owl
I thought, when I looked out the window this morning, that there was no reason for the snow day we're having today. It wasn't snowing... it wasn't even really raining much. Then I went to pay the rent, just around the corner.
I have just successfully completed that expedition, and lived to tell the tale. I must say, it's a good thing classes are canceled today. I don't think I could make it there without an amphibious vehicle of some sort, like maybe one of these.
We have several feet of snow, melting really fast, but there's nowhere that's not paved and the drains are clogged with ice. Where there's still snow, some of it's rock-solid and some just looks like it while actually being liquid. Then there's the parts that are a little of both, so that you sink through sharp edges. I am so staying inside the rest of the day. Groceries can wait.
I have just successfully completed that expedition, and lived to tell the tale. I must say, it's a good thing classes are canceled today. I don't think I could make it there without an amphibious vehicle of some sort, like maybe one of these.
We have several feet of snow, melting really fast, but there's nowhere that's not paved and the drains are clogged with ice. Where there's still snow, some of it's rock-solid and some just looks like it while actually being liquid. Then there's the parts that are a little of both, so that you sink through sharp edges. I am so staying inside the rest of the day. Groceries can wait.
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