Press "Enter" to skip to content

The art of literary translation | Natasha Sondakh | TEDxJIS


[Applause]

[Applause] all humans speak the same language maybe

all humans speak the same language maybe

all humans speak the same language maybe not all of us can understand or talk

not all of us can understand or talk

not all of us can understand or talk speak English but all of us can

speak English but all of us can

speak English but all of us can understand and convey the universal

understand and convey the universal

understand and convey the universal language of joy sadness and pain I am a

language of joy sadness and pain I am a

language of joy sadness and pain I am a full-time poet and a part-time

full-time poet and a part-time

full-time poet and a part-time translator I’m currently in the midst of

translator I’m currently in the midst of

translator I’m currently in the midst of publishing my own poetry anthology with

publishing my own poetry anthology with

publishing my own poetry anthology with a Singaporean publisher and I’m also

a Singaporean publisher and I’m also

a Singaporean publisher and I’m also translating short stories by alley about

translating short stories by alley about

translating short stories by alley about a novice who is this Indonesian author

a novice who is this Indonesian author

a novice who is this Indonesian author my interest in these two areas of

my interest in these two areas of

my interest in these two areas of literature actually tried I actually

literature actually tried I actually

literature actually tried I actually tried to translate this poem that I

tried to translate this poem that I

tried to translate this poem that I wrote for our ex-governor Hawk and it’s

wrote for our ex-governor Hawk and it’s

wrote for our ex-governor Hawk and it’s really hard because well you’ll see why

really hard because well you’ll see why

really hard because well you’ll see why I started getting really serious with

I started getting really serious with

I started getting really serious with poetry and translation when I went to

poetry and translation when I went to

poetry and translation when I went to Columbia University for a summer session

Columbia University for a summer session

Columbia University for a summer session and I met this Danish translator called

and I met this Danish translator called

and I met this Danish translator called Cochin Jensen that same summer I went to

Cochin Jensen that same summer I went to

Cochin Jensen that same summer I went to go visit colleges in the US and I met

go visit colleges in the US and I met

go visit colleges in the US and I met this American boy we introduced

this American boy we introduced

this American boy we introduced ourselves to each other and when I told

ourselves to each other and when I told

ourselves to each other and when I told him where I was from

him where I was from

him where I was from he was like Indonesia what’s that and I

he was like Indonesia what’s that and I

he was like Indonesia what’s that and I was surprised but this experience

was surprised but this experience

was surprised but this experience actually made me realize that Indonesia

actually made me realize that Indonesia

actually made me realize that Indonesia isn’t very well known in the world and

isn’t very well known in the world and

isn’t very well known in the world and part of the reason behind this is

part of the reason behind this is

part of the reason behind this is because Indonesian literature does not

because Indonesian literature does not

because Indonesian literature does not have a prominent place this is because

have a prominent place this is because

have a prominent place this is because we do not have enough translators and in

we do not have enough translators and in

we do not have enough translators and in this context I use the word translators

this context I use the word translators

this context I use the word translators loosely not in the context of only

loosely not in the context of only

loosely not in the context of only Indonesian literature but in the context

Indonesian literature but in the context

Indonesian literature but in the context of world literature today ladies and

of world literature today ladies and

of world literature today ladies and gentlemen successful stories do get

gentlemen successful stories do get

gentlemen successful stories do get translated one of my favorite stories as

translated one of my favorite stories as

translated one of my favorite stories as a child Harry Potter has been translated

a child Harry Potter has been translated

a child Harry Potter has been translated into 68 different languages bahasa

into 68 different languages bahasa

into 68 different languages bahasa Indonesian included despite English

Indonesian included despite English

Indonesian included despite English being the most spoken language in the

being the most spoken language in the

being the most spoken language in the world translating foreign literature or

world translating foreign literature or

world translating foreign literature or literature in general opens the door to

literature in general opens the door to

literature in general opens the door to a more international audience JK Rowling

a more international audience JK Rowling

a more international audience JK Rowling once said no story lives unless someone

once said no story lives unless someone

once said no story lives unless someone wants to listen and the majority of

wants to listen and the majority of

wants to listen and the majority of people who want to listen are not part

people who want to listen are not part

people who want to listen are not part of a monoculture but are instead

of a monoculture but are instead

of a monoculture but are instead citizens of a diverse world literature

citizens of a diverse world literature

citizens of a diverse world literature is knowledge and knowledge should not be

is knowledge and knowledge should not be

is knowledge and knowledge should not be limited to a single audience but how

limited to a single audience but how

limited to a single audience but how else can we break the barrier of

else can we break the barrier of

else can we break the barrier of language if not through translation when

language if not through translation when

language if not through translation when I tell people that I translate it in

I tell people that I translate it in

I tell people that I translate it in Asian literature sometimes people are

Asian literature sometimes people are

Asian literature sometimes people are kind of judgmental like one time after

kind of judgmental like one time after

kind of judgmental like one time after ap Literature we studied a text by

ap Literature we studied a text by

ap Literature we studied a text by Gabriel Garcia Marquez which was a

Gabriel Garcia Marquez which was a

Gabriel Garcia Marquez which was a translated short story and my friend

translated short story and my friend

translated short story and my friend came up to me and she told me that all

came up to me and she told me that all

came up to me and she told me that all this while she had perceived translation

this while she had perceived translation

this while she had perceived translation with a tinge of condescension but this

with a tinge of condescension but this

with a tinge of condescension but this isn’t the first time I’ve heard such a

isn’t the first time I’ve heard such a

isn’t the first time I’ve heard such a remark see a lot of people attribute the

remark see a lot of people attribute the

remark see a lot of people attribute the art of translation as purely a work of

art of translation as purely a work of

art of translation as purely a work of Google Translate which is every foreign

Google Translate which is every foreign

Google Translate which is every foreign language students best friend and yeah

language students best friend and yeah

language students best friend and yeah sometimes I do use Google Translate if I

sometimes I do use Google Translate if I

sometimes I do use Google Translate if I don’t know how a word can translate

don’t know how a word can translate

don’t know how a word can translate nicely into English or if I want to find

nicely into English or if I want to find

nicely into English or if I want to find out a synonym of a word but as a

out a synonym of a word but as a

out a synonym of a word but as a translator

translator

translator I can’t rely on a programmed machine to

I can’t rely on a programmed machine to

I can’t rely on a programmed machine to translate literature this is why in

translate literature this is why in

translate literature this is why in psychology we learn about this thing

psychology we learn about this thing

psychology we learn about this thing called mirror neurons which are these

called mirror neurons which are these

called mirror neurons which are these neurons in your head that fire whenever

neurons in your head that fire whenever

neurons in your head that fire whenever you observe something external this is

you observe something external this is

you observe something external this is the reason why you might be afraid to go

the reason why you might be afraid to go

the reason why you might be afraid to go to the bathroom after they’re watching

to the bathroom after they’re watching

to the bathroom after they’re watching the ring or why you feel very sad after

the ring or why you feel very sad after

the ring or why you feel very sad after after reading Romeo and Juliet this is a

after reading Romeo and Juliet this is a

after reading Romeo and Juliet this is a scientific explanation of what’s more

scientific explanation of what’s more

scientific explanation of what’s more commonly known as empathy this is what

commonly known as empathy this is what

commonly known as empathy this is what people often forget if you’re reading a

people often forget if you’re reading a

people often forget if you’re reading a piece of literature you’re not just

piece of literature you’re not just

piece of literature you’re not just reading a scatter of words on a page you

reading a scatter of words on a page you

reading a scatter of words on a page you are reading words that are associated

are reading words that are associated

are reading words that are associated with emotions you are reading the words

with emotions you are reading the words

with emotions you are reading the words that the writer has curated a pro effort

that the writer has curated a pro effort

that the writer has curated a pro effort effortlessly or sometimes effortfully by

effortlessly or sometimes effortfully by

effortlessly or sometimes effortfully by taking you on a journey with them and

taking you on a journey with them and

taking you on a journey with them and this journey aren’t it’s not words this

this journey aren’t it’s not words this

this journey aren’t it’s not words this journey is emotions right and the things

journey is emotions right and the things

journey is emotions right and the things you remember from literature

you remember from literature

you remember from literature not it’s not how the author describes

not it’s not how the author describes

not it’s not how the author describes Hogwarts

Hogwarts

Hogwarts it’s how Harry Potter met his friends

it’s how Harry Potter met his friends

it’s how Harry Potter met his friends it’s how Harry Potter defeated Voldemort

it’s how Harry Potter defeated Voldemort

it’s how Harry Potter defeated Voldemort if that was a spoiler I’m sorry

if that was a spoiler I’m sorry

if that was a spoiler I’m sorry and yeah victor shklovsky once said art

and yeah victor shklovsky once said art

and yeah victor shklovsky once said art is thinking in images the purpose of

is thinking in images the purpose of

is thinking in images the purpose of imagery is to bring the significance of

imagery is to bring the significance of

imagery is to bring the significance of the image closer to our understanding

the image closer to our understanding

the image closer to our understanding without this the image has no meaning

without this the image has no meaning

without this the image has no meaning the reason why I will now say that we

the reason why I will now say that we

the reason why I will now say that we are all translators is because we all

are all translators is because we all

are all translators is because we all convey and understand information

convey and understand information

convey and understand information differently so if you put let’s say me

differently so if you put let’s say me

differently so if you put let’s say me and my bahasa Indonesian teacher side by

and my bahasa Indonesian teacher side by

and my bahasa Indonesian teacher side by side to translate the hahahaha poem that

side to translate the hahahaha poem that

side to translate the hahahaha poem that I wrote our final products will be

I wrote our final products will be

I wrote our final products will be different this is not to say that me or

different this is not to say that me or

different this is not to say that me or him are under-qualified in the target

him are under-qualified in the target

him are under-qualified in the target language or even the original language

language or even the original language

language or even the original language it’s just the fact that you know my

it’s just the fact that you know my

it’s just the fact that you know my perception of my own poem versus his are

perception of my own poem versus his are

perception of my own poem versus his are definitely going to be different

definitely going to be different

definitely going to be different similarly my perception of Hogwarts and

similarly my perception of Hogwarts and

similarly my perception of Hogwarts and Narnia will definitely defer from I

Narnia will definitely defer from I

Narnia will definitely defer from I don’t know let’s say a widowed 40 year

don’t know let’s say a widowed 40 year

don’t know let’s say a widowed 40 year old fireman living in Canada

old fireman living in Canada

old fireman living in Canada even if we’re both reading the prose in

even if we’re both reading the prose in

even if we’re both reading the prose in the same language our experiences shape

the same language our experiences shape

the same language our experiences shape the way we perceive art as school ski

the way we perceive art as school ski

the way we perceive art as school ski has implied this is also the reason

has implied this is also the reason

has implied this is also the reason behind why there are multiple

behind why there are multiple

behind why there are multiple translations for famous translated I

translations for famous translated I

translations for famous translated I mean translated literature such as

mean translated literature such as

mean translated literature such as Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov there is a Claude garnet

Karamazov there is a Claude garnet

Karamazov there is a Claude garnet translation and there is the Richard

translation and there is the Richard

translation and there is the Richard Pahlavi Rand Valera Zavala Han ski

Pahlavi Rand Valera Zavala Han ski

Pahlavi Rand Valera Zavala Han ski translation and it’s not to say that

translation and it’s not to say that

translation and it’s not to say that both of these have no merit or are you

both of these have no merit or are you

both of these have no merit or are you know one of it is not qualified because

know one of it is not qualified because

know one of it is not qualified because both of them are interpretations of the

both of them are interpretations of the

both of them are interpretations of the text translated pieces are independent

text translated pieces are independent

text translated pieces are independent texts they’re not I mean of course they

texts they’re not I mean of course they

texts they’re not I mean of course they are interpretations of the original

are interpretations of the original

are interpretations of the original texts but they stand alone as their own

texts but they stand alone as their own

texts but they stand alone as their own art so what’s next

art so what’s next

art so what’s next I know not all of you are going to go

I know not all of you are going to go

I know not all of you are going to go out translating multiple prose and plays

out translating multiple prose and plays

out translating multiple prose and plays and poetry but if you want to

and poetry but if you want to

and poetry but if you want to please do so you have my blessing and

please do so you have my blessing and

please do so you have my blessing and you have the world’s blessing but what

you have the world’s blessing but what

you have the world’s blessing but what can you do to be a trend leader here in

can you do to be a trend leader here in

can you do to be a trend leader here in jiss or even in Jakarta where 50-plus

jiss or even in Jakarta where 50-plus

jiss or even in Jakarta where 50-plus languages are spoken every day

languages are spoken every day

languages are spoken every day ask yourself what languages can you

ask yourself what languages can you

ask yourself what languages can you speak what emotions or truths do you

speak what emotions or truths do you

speak what emotions or truths do you want to convey to others and how can you

want to convey to others and how can you

want to convey to others and how can you make knowledge accessible to people who

make knowledge accessible to people who

make knowledge accessible to people who are hungry for it begin with a

are hungry for it begin with a

are hungry for it begin with a conversation about words what words at a

conversation about words what words at a

conversation about words what words at a language that can speak have made you

language that can speak have made you

language that can speak have made you understand something differently

understand something differently

understand something differently what truths or concepts do you want to

what truths or concepts do you want to

what truths or concepts do you want to convey to others that a language that

convey to others that a language that

convey to others that a language that you that you know have made you

you that you know have made you

you that you know have made you understand it better but maybe in

understand it better but maybe in

understand it better but maybe in another language it the concept isn’t as

another language it the concept isn’t as

another language it the concept isn’t as clear share your life and your

clear share your life and your

clear share your life and your experiences with others be the

experiences with others be the

experiences with others be the translator of thought of emotions of the

translator of thought of emotions of the

translator of thought of emotions of the knowledge you have acquired throughout

knowledge you have acquired throughout

knowledge you have acquired throughout all the years about being alive

all the years about being alive

all the years about being alive we humans are drifting spirits trying to

we humans are drifting spirits trying to

we humans are drifting spirits trying to communicate the complexities and the

communicate the complexities and the

communicate the complexities and the intricacies of our thoughts and emotions

intricacies of our thoughts and emotions

intricacies of our thoughts and emotions but communicating them to other people

but communicating them to other people

but communicating them to other people through the medium of words that other

through the medium of words that other

through the medium of words that other people can understand ladies and

people can understand ladies and

people can understand ladies and gentlemen talking is sharing sharing is

gentlemen talking is sharing sharing is

gentlemen talking is sharing sharing is translating and in this digital age

translating and in this digital age

translating and in this digital age sharing is very very easy all we need is

sharing is very very easy all we need is

sharing is very very easy all we need is just more people to do it thank you

just more people to do it thank you

just more people to do it thank you [Applause]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *