Found in Translation

by Jost Zetsche and Nataly Kelly

Something I love almost as much as I love languages is reading about them. However, many books on languages suffer from what I like to call the "Goldilocks and the three Bears" syndrome: often they are too close to either end of the difficulty spectrum. In other words, they are either too simplified or too dry and academic. I don't know about you, but after a long day of translating, the last thing I want to do is glance over tidbits that sound nice but mean little or wade through page after page of metalanguage which, though well researched, puts me to sleep.

Thankfully, I believe that Goldilocks herself, had she been a translator or interpreter, would have said that Found in Translation read "just right". Indeed, you will not find anything remotely close to velar fricatives nor will you be serenaded by a half-explained language concept that you might see on the last five minutes of the evening news. A case in point is the explanation of the Chevy Nova (I could give it away, but I want you to read the book yourself).

In a nutshell, Found in Translation explains what translators and interpreters do and why they are important. Some key areas of translation and interpreting that the book covers are religion, politics, commerce, the Internet and, ehem, pornography. I had never stopped to think that there was a need for translating pornography, but that just goes to show the broad spectrum of the applications of translating and interpreting. Even if you are an experienced translator or interpreter, you will benefit from reading this book because I guarantee that it will shed new light on the profession, and when you finish reading the book, you will come away with new knowledge.If you are not a translator interpreter, this book will be an eye-opener for you because it will expand your conception of what it means to translate and interpret.

There is only one point that I am not as zealous about as the authors of this book. Along with debunking myths about translating and interpreting and showing that the entire world owes a great deal of its success to translation, I sensed an undercurrent of seeking more recognition for translators and interpreters. On a personal note, though I would not mind earning more money for translating (Who wouldn't want to earn more money from their job?), I see an advantage in being anonymous, in people not really knowing what I do for a living. True, it is always nice to be appreciated, but there is something to be said about not being in the line of fire--to be able to fade into the background.

If you'd like to pick up a copy, you can buy it either as an e-book or hard copy here.