Choosing the Best Translation

If watching Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” attracted you to the fascinating world of Homer, you may have encountered several translations of the epic. You may find Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation: quick, punchy and focused on Odysseus’ psychological depth. Alternatively, you may find Richmond Lattimore’s 1965 version: slower, archaic and inherently academic.

Reading translated literature is an amazing way to explore worlds beyond your language, but choosing a translation isn’t as simple as picking the first one you find. Every translator makes choices about language, style and culture, making each translation a unique interpretation of the original. Some translators prioritize accessibility; others prioritize the author’s original style and cultural context. Because of this, it’s hard to define a translation as the “best” for every reader. Instead, this guide will help you find the right translation for you: for a Sciences Piste looking to explore the world of translated literature.

The Translation vs. the Original

Researchers on translated literature often discuss two different strategies for translation: foreignization and domestication. Coined by theorist Lawrence Venuti, these terms relate to a translator's loyalty to the original culture of the work they translate. 

Foreignized translations preserve the original cultural references and expressions of the text. This may include unfamiliar concepts and ways of speaking. While these translations may be a little harder to read without a prior understanding of the culture, you receive a much closer fidelity to the source material. For example, Richard Francis Burton’s 1888 translation of “One Thousand and One Nights” is considered foreignized for its archaic English, literal translation of Arabic figures of speech and inclusion of cultural taboos.

Domesticated translations prioritize readability, editing to accommodate the reader’s culture. This involves translating concepts rather than words and editing grammar and expressions to be more familiar to readers. Think of Edward William Lane’s 1840 translation of “One Thousand and One Nights.” Lane’s translation was considered domesticated for its accessible English, explanation of cultural references and sanitization of taboos. While a domesticated translation may not be the most literal, reading it will immerse you in the story much more easily. 

In reality, most translations exist somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between these two strategies. They may prioritize the original structure of the source material while also taking time to explain concepts within the text. With a quick Google search, you may find a translation that carries the perfect balance between domestication and foreignization for you.

Other Translation Factors

Aside from readability and authenticity, there are several other factors we can use to differentiate and select translations for ourselves:

Literal vs. interpretative: Some translators choose to write the text exactly as it was created. This is better for more modern novels, when you are actually interested in the original author’s intent and style. On the other hand, especially with classics, translators often take an adaptive approach. They may choose to highlight class or psychology within the text while still telling the story of the original. This is amazing if you’re already familiar with the story, such as “The Odyssey,” and want to find a loyal but original take.

Modern vs. older translations: As translations age, their writing becomes more archaic and can even become culturally insensitive. While I wouldn’t advise you to ignore every older translation, they often have an academic style that is hard to read, especially now. Modern translations often take into account cultural sensitivities, such as Orientalism or classism, and utilize more readable language, which may be more accessible for the 21st-century reader.

Poetic vs. prose: Epics like “The Odyssey” or “The Mahabharata” may originally be composed in a poetic style unique to and dependent upon its source language. Translators may find it difficult to construct a stanza that carries the same rhyme and meter while also conveying the concept. Some translators decide to preserve the rhythm, figurative language and unusual syntax to maintain authenticity while others focus on readability and may convert it to prose to easily clarify concepts.

Annotated vs. unannotated editions: Many translations, especially those rooted in academia, will have annotations and footnotes to explain cultural references and historical issues with source material. For example, a translator may wish to include a detail from one source and note that this is contested in another source of the same story. That being said, your preference for annotations may depend on your level of academic interest in the translation.

Complete vs. abridged editions: Often, especially with long classics like “One Thousand and One Nights,” translators release abridged editions of the most popular stories or those they have the most confidence in translating. If you want an introduction to the classic, an abridged edition might be better. However, if you want to fully immerse yourself no matter the number of pages, the unabridged edition is the one for you.

Comparing Translations

When actually buying translations, it’s best to compare them side by side.

First, find the same passage in a few different editions. Read each passage out loud, thinking of how much you're learning culturally and your initial comprehension of the work. Can you feel the rhythm, if it exists? Can you feel the tone? Look for the factors I wrote about in the last section.

Then, look up the translators. Many of them have academic backgrounds and often share the same intentions and stylistic differences between translations of several texts. Even looking at Reddit may help you know a little more about the type of style, strategy and content that the translator writes. This may help you identify which translations you are actually interested in.

After this, check the technical details of the edition. Is it abridged or complete? How old is it? Has it been revised since its publication? Does it have annotations?

Finally, after learning about all these translations, consider what exactly you’re looking for. Are you reading for pleasure? For cultural understanding? Or perhaps for academic purposes? Your goals will point you to a certain edition. And hopefully, by this point, one edition stands out to you as the best one for you.

Translation Examples

Let’s put this into perspective with three examples of translations of “The Odyssey.”

Emily Wilson (2017): Wilson is notable for her use of tight poetry, specifically iambic pentameter, combined with direct and clear English. Her translation is fast-paced, but she is particularly known for her translation choices regarding class, psychology and gender. She may objectify Odysseus the same way other translators did for Penelope and Circe, and she is famous for using the word “slave” instead of the sanitized “servant” or “maid.” Wilson is thus great for first-time readers who want an approachable but structurally loyal version, or one that’s conscious of its cultural issues.

Robert Fagles (1996): Fagles favors expansive and energetic verse, which gives the epic a grand and theatrical quality. His English will feel more elaborate and slower than Wilson’s, but it is great at telling the epic narrative of this hero’s adventure. If your interest in “The Odyssey” stems from an interest in the grand tales of gods and monsters, Fagles might be right for you. 

Richmond Lattimore (1965): Lattimore is probably the most loyal to Homer of the three. He preserves original phrases, repeated expressions and sentence structures, even if they stem from the original oral tradition of the epic. Readers can feel closer to Homer’s original work, but his English may be less familiar or natural. Lattimore’s translation may be more suited to academically interested readers, or perhaps if you’re reading it alongside a critical commentary. 

A Last Note

To summarize, I’ll give you a short checklist that may help you the next time you’re in a library or on Amazon looking for a translation.

Before I pick up the book...

As I leave you to find your own amazing translations, I want to remind you that above everything, translations are personal. No translation is the best for everyone, and finding the translation that matches you will take time. Don’t be afraid to try a translation and realize you don’t like it within the first pages. Researching translations will get you only so far, but in the end, it’s really about trial and error. Just keep going, and you’ll find the translation made for you.

Photo Source: Guy Fleming, wikimedia commons