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Davis 1 Myron Davis Professor Trevor Merrill Art of Translation - Fren 405 (CSUN) 27 January 2013 A Response to Edith

Grossmans Why Translation Matters In her extended essay, Why Translation Matters, Edith Grossman argues that the crosspollination of language allows us to push beyond conceptual limitations in our own language, which we may not have even known we had. Moreover, those exposed to world literature in translation are given experiential lessons and tools to understand and navigate life, so much so that its integral nature in explaining our own actions, reactions, and assessments often goes unnoticed without the benefit of self-reflection. Grossman also asserts that rather than polluting a language, linguistic infusions enrich the expressive potential of a language for all its speakers. The alternative would be a languages withering on the vine, or so says similarly no less a literary giant than Goethe. Exposure to other great writers translated works serves as informal mentorship, profoundly influencing the way in which writers approach their craft structurally and stylistically. In the case of Cervantes, Faulkner, and Garcia Mrquez, by paying it forward, Spanish in the end repaid itself by Garcia Mrquezs embrace of Faulkners Cervantean style. To conclude, the author names a few potential threats to the greater appreciation of works in translation: nationalistic linguistic ideologies, market-driven publishers, potentially apathetic readers, and counterintuitively, university English departments. This monopolization of the

Davis 2 world literature domain by English departments over foreign language departments was one of the most interesting points of the essay for me because of the unintended irony. I found the essay insightful and inspiring in the affection it displayed towards literature. In the interest of full disclosure, after reading it I must admit having been moved to a bit of regret for all of the great literature I have yet to read. I was curious what practical solutions she might have proposed to begin countering the aforementioned adversaries to translated works. After reflection one of the underlying themes running throughout the piece--closed thinking versus open thinking--emerged as a potential starting point to seek solutions. Though I do not take issue with most of her arguments, the skeptic in me does not share her inferred optimism that modern American audiences might be as moved as Europeans to read works in translation even if some brave publishers were inclined to release an equivalent number of titles. However, playing devils advocate to myself, the current film- and television-inspired interest in Scandinavian noir novels in translation may present a hopeful sign.

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