Translation, Humans—Machines, not so easy
After four annual efforts of translating various kinds of artistic, poetic, abstract, solid and lucid writings accompanying or describing artwork in the ASAP exhibitions I felt the time is right to jot down some comments and notes on the experiences collected.
Like any other bilingual publisher, we face the challenge of not only translating written material but also trying to adopt and combine cultures via text. Even more than visual work text forms a direct dialog. More so, as writing opens up less space for interpretation and often constitutes a definite statement. Visuals have fewer cultural boundaries as the translation of the work is done in the individual viewer’s mind, though formed by the culture the viewer belongs to; so this translation, unlike written text, is not a literal one.
As Walter Benjamin argues in his text “The Task of the Translator” (that served as a introduction to a translation of Baudelaire’s Tableaux parisiens), translating not only creates a translated message it recreates the value provided by the text throughout the ages. As he points out, a translation is a part of the “afterlife” of any text. And thus this translation is always part of the text’s history. Benjamin quotes Rudolf Pannwitz in his text, “Our translations [German ones], even the best ones, proceed from a wrong premise. They want to turn Hindi, Greek, English into German instead of turning German into Hindi, Greek, English.” By this he means that to start understanding a translated text the reader must first broaden his or her understanding of the original language of the text. The main goal and key of an interpreter and not a mere translator is to understand the text’s intention and not purely its meaning.
The interpretive meaning of a text is well established in the “translation” of philosophical texts where translation and interpretive extensions of the text very often go hand in hand. These interpretive translations have in many cases been done by philosophers who are famous in their own right. My first personal contact with the extension of interpretive intent was with regard to a text written in English about an art work of mine. The poetic prose seemed rather untranslatable to me and yet a Hong Kong-based translator took on the task of translating it into Mandarin. After many corresponding questions and interrogations with the original author, she presented me with the translated text and one accompanying sentence: “I believe my version is better than the original”. With this she meant, of course, better for a Mandarin speaking audience and its understanding with regard to its upbringing and possible cognitive/historic connections to the past. Many bilingual Chinese artists confirmed this sentence afterwards. If writing is interpreted to such an extent and such efforts to convey not only literal meaning but intention with regard to the recipient’s culture, the translators themselves deserve a credit far beyond the usual note on the second page—1“Translated by…” Their work is almost like an adaptation from script to stage or stage to film.
Let us return to Benjamin’s arguments about translations. He argued that translations are never definite just as language is not definite and so any type of translation will need to be re-translated or re-interpreted in order to stay “fresh” as he called it. In the history of books and printed matters we have seen these updates, and essential as well as classic texts have been translated over and over in the past.
For this year’s ASAP exhibition we initially planned an altogether different type of translation: a non-agenda translation, as much as this is possible. Google Translate, the currently most widely used online translator, allows quick and fast literal linguistic transformation of 53 languages (08/2012). Though this application has seen rapid improvement, its translations lack any kind of interpretative or culturally related intention. The programmed machine mostly translates first to English and then to the target language. The idea for ASAP using these non-agenda translation derived from experiences of the usage in China by both individuals and companies. Indecipherable sentences printed on 30 meter wide advertisements in the city center of Beijing are not a rare sight. Magazines, newspapers, advertisements, any kind of signature or brochure might bear traces of translation machines and their bad results. “Careful landslight” on a please flush the toilet sign, “if you are stolen, please call the police at once” stated outside the police office, “racist park” on a sign on the highway pointing towards the national park exit. In public, these translations are funny and in fact many books dealing with these “fun” encounters in China have been published in recent years. To fully express the idea of this non-agenda translation, we want to have the artists’ texts re-translated into English.
As an experiment, these texts will be translated in “regular” form by our translator and then twice by a translation machine to illustrate the extent of fragmentation.
Lukas Birk, ASAP co-founder,
His Excellency PlentyPotential to the Embassy of the Arts, Sanlitun Diplomatic Compounds, Beijing.
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Retranslated by Google Translator from Chinese PART I
Translation, human - machine is not so easy.
After four years of hard work, the translation of a variety of artistic, poetic, abstract, solid and clear writings be accompanied or description ASAP exhibition of works, and I think the time is right point experience, collected some notes and instructions .
Any other bilingual publishers, like, the challenges we face, not only to translate written materials, but try and adopt, and combined with the culture through text. Text more visual form of direct dialogue. Let alone write explanatory, tend to form a clear view. Visual translation of the individual in the hearts of the audience, although the formation of the culture of the audience is less cultural boundaries, unlike written text translation is not literal.
As Walter Benjamin in his words “Task of the Translator” (as the translation of Baudelaire scenes Parisiens also introduced), the translation is not only to create a translation of the message, it reproduces the text of the entire era. As he pointed out that “the afterlife” part of the translation of any text. Therefore, this part of the history of the translation of the text. Benjamin Rudolf Pannwitz references in his text, our translation [Germany], even the best, starting from a false premise. Want to turn into a German rather than German into Hindi, Greek, English , Hindi, Greek, English. “he meant, and begin to understand the translated text, readers must broaden first understand the original language text. Explanation, and not a mere translation of the main objective, the key is to understand the intention of the text, rather than the pure sense.
The explanatory text is the meaning of the text recognized the extension of the philosophy of “translation” of the translation and interpretation of the text, often go hand in hand. In many cases, these interpretative translation has completed the famous philosopher of their rights. My first personal contact with the extended explanation intend is written in English, my works of art to the greetings of the text. Poetic prose somewhat untranslatable, I have not had one in Hong Kong to explain it translated into Mandarin task. With the original author, she my problem and the text after the trial and an accompanying sentence: “I believe that my version is better then the original. She meant, of course, and one said the Mandarin audience and their understanding of their growth and cognitive / past historical origins. The many bilingual Chinese artist subsequently confirmed this sentence. Written explanation, this extension, this effort not only to convey the literal meaning, but intend to credit worthy in the culture of the recipients own interpretation goes far beyond the usual attention on the second page of the translation of his works almost the same from the script to the stage or the stage adaptation of the movie.
Back to Benjamin’s translation controversy. He believes that translation is never clear language is not clear, the translation of any type will need to re-translate or reinterpret, to keep “fresh”, because he called it. In the history books and prints, we have seen these updates and necessary, because the classic text has been translated over, and in the past.
ASAP exhibition the past few years, we initially planed together different types of translation. The translation of non-agenda, as much as possible, because it is possible. Google Translator is currently the most widely used online translator allows quick and fast text language into 53 languages (08/2012). Although this application has been improved faster, its translation is not any kind of interpretative intention or cultural. Most of the programming machine translation of the first in English, then in the target language. This idea as soon as possible the use of these non-agenda translation from the use of the experience of individuals and companies in China. Difficult sentences printed in more than 30 meters wide advertising in Beijing’s city center, is a rare sight. Magazines, newspapers, advertising, and any form of signatures or booklets may bear traces of machine translation and their bad results. “Beware landslight” the flush toilets sign, “If you are stolen, call the police at the time,” said the police station, “Racist Park” signs point to the national park on the highway export. In public, these translations is interesting, in fact, many books have appeared in recent years in China’s “fun” encounter. To fully express their ideas, this non-agenda translation, we will re-translation of the English text of the artist.
As an experiment in the form of “conventional”, the text will be translated, the translation, then the translation machine twice extended debris.
Lucas Burke, ASAP, co-founder,
He’s Lord PlentyPotential embassy Art, Beijing
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Retranslated by Google Translator from Chinese PART II
Translation, human - machine is not so easy.
After four years of hard work, accompanied by a variety of artistic, poetic, abstract, solid and clear writings translation or description ASAP exhibition works, I think the time is right experience points, collected some notes and instructions.
Bilingual any other publishers, the challenges we face, not only to translate the written material, but try and adopt, and through a combination of text and culture. Text more intuitive form of direct dialogue. Let alone write a description, tend to form a clear view. Individuals in the hearts of the audience's visual translation, although the formation of the audience less cultural boundaries of culture, with a written text translated text.
Also introduced Walter Benjamin in his translation of the translation task (Baudelaire scene Parisiens), the translation is not only to create a translation of the message, it reproduces the text of the entire era. He pointed out that part of the afterlife, the translation of any text. Therefore, this part of the history of the translated text. Benjamin Rudolph Pannwitz quote his text translation [Germany], even the best, from a false premise. To become a German, rather than German into Hindi, Greek, English, Hindi, Greek, English. "He means to begin to understand the translated text, readers must broaden understanding of the original first language interpretation, and not only translate the main goal, the key is to understand the intent of the text, rather than the pure sense.
Extension of the recognized text in the help text for translation and interpretation of the text on the philosophical significance of the "translation" often go hand in hand. In many cases, these interpretative translation has completed the famous philosopher, of their rights. My first personal contact with the extended interpretation of the intention to write in English, the text of the greetings of my works of art. Some untranslatable poetic prose, I also did not explain in Hong Kong, one of the tasks it translated into Mandarin. Her original author, my question and the text after the trial and subsequent sentence: "I believe that my version is better then the original. She meant, of course, said Mandarin audience and their understanding that they growth and cognitive / past history. many Chinese artists bilingual subsequently confirmed this statement from the written explanation, this extension efforts in this regard, not only to convey the literal meaning, but intend to reputable culture recipients own interpretation goes far beyond the usual attention to the translation on the second page, he works almost the same script stage or the stage adaptation of the movie of the same name.
Backup Benjamin translation controversy. He believes that translation is never clear language is not clear, the translation of any type will need to re-translate or reinterpret, to keep "fresh", because he called it. In the history books and prints, we have seen these updates and necessary, has been translated, in the past, the classic text.
ASAP show in the past few years, we initially planed different types of translation. Non-agenda, as much as possible of the translation, as it is possible. Google Translator is currently the most widely used online translated into 53 languages (08/2012) to allow quick and fast text language. Although this application has been improved, its no intent or culture of any kind of explanatory translation. First in English, then in the target language programming machine translation. This idea as soon as possible to use the experience of individuals and companies use these non-agenda translation in China. Difficult sentences printed advertising in more than 30 meters wide in the city center of Beijing, is a rare sight. Magazines, newspapers, advertising, any form of signatures or booklets may bear the traces of machine translation, their bad results. Flush toilet signs, "Caution landslight" "If you are stolen, call the police, saying:" the police station, "Racist Park" signs point in the highway exit National Park. In public, these translations is interesting, in fact, many books have appeared in recent years in China's "fun" encounter. In order to fully express their ideas, non-agenda translation, we will re-translation of the English text of the artists.
In the form of "conventional", as an experiment, the text will be translated, translation, translator then twice extended debris.
Lucas Burke, ASAP, co-founder,
He is the main PlentyPotential embassy Art Center, Beijing
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Retranslated by Google Translator from Chinese PART III
Translation, human - machine is not so easy.
After four years of hard work, along with a variety of artistic, poetic, abstract, solid and clear writings translation or description ASAP exhibition works, I think the time is right experience, collect some notes and instructions.
Bilingual any other publisher, the challenges we face, not only to translate the written material, but to try and adopted through a combination of text and cultural. Text more intuitive form of direct dialogue. Let alone write a description, tend to form a clear view. The heart of the individual visual translation of the audience, while the formation of the cultural boundaries of culture is not in the audience, a written text translated text.
Walter Benjamin in his translation of the translation task (Baudelaire site Parisiens), translation is not only to create a translation of the message, it reproduces the text of the entire era. He pointed out that part of the afterlife, the translation of any text. Therefore, this part of the history of the translated text. Benjamin Rudolph Pannwitz reference to his text translation [Germany], even the best, from a false premise. To become a German, not German into Hindi, Greek, English, Hindi, Greek, English. "What he meant is beginning to understand the translation of the text, the reader must expand the understanding of the original language interpreter, is not only the main objective of the translation, the key is to understand the intent of the text, rather than the pure sense.
Explanatory text to text translation and interpretation in the philosophical sense of the expansion of the recognized text in the "translation" often go hand in hand. In many cases, these interpretative translation has completed the famous philosopher, of their rights. Intent to write in English, my first personal contact with works of art text greetings extended explanation. Untranslatable poetry prose, I also did not explain it translated into Mandarin in Hong Kong, one of the tasks. Her original author, after my question and text, trial and subsequent sentence: "I believe that my version is better, that she meant to Mandarin-speaking audiences, and their understanding, of course, their growth and , cognitive / past history of many Chinese artists bilingual subsequently confirmed by a written explanation of this statement, this extended work in this area, not only to convey the literal meaning, but intend to own interpretation of reputable cultural recipient far beyond the usual attention to on the second page of the translation, he works almost the same script stage or film adaptation of the same name.
Backup Benjamin controversial translation. He believes that translation is never clear language is not clear, the translation of any type will need to re-translate or reinterpret, to keep "fresh", because he called it. In the history books and prints, we have seen these updates and necessary, has been translated, in the past, the classic text.
ASAP, in the past few years, we first planing different types of translation. Non-agenda, as much as possible of the translation, as it is possible. Google Translator is currently the most widely used online translated into 53 languages (08/2012) to allow quick and fast text language. Although this application has been improved, no deliberate or any form of the translation of culture. First, in the UK, and then programming the machine in the target language translation. In China, individuals and companies use this idea as soon as possible to experience these non-agenda translation. The difficult sentences print ads over 30 meters wide in Beijing's city center, is a rare sight. Magazines, newspapers, advertising, and any form of signatures or booklets can bear the traces of machine translation, their bad results. The flush toilets flag, "be careful landslight" If you are stolen, call the police, said: "of the police station," Racist Park "sign point on the highway at the exit National Park. In public, these translations is interesting, in fact, many books have appeared in recent years in China's "fun" encounter. In order to fully express their ideas, the translation of non-agenda, we will re-translation of the English text of the artist.
In "conventional" as an experiment in the form of the text will be translated, translation, translation twice extended debris.
Lucas Burke, ASAP, co-founder,
His the main PlentyPotential embassy Art Center, Beijing