The Critic and Her Publics Practical Translation: Proust
Aug 24, 2025
Daisy Rockwell, a translator specializing in Hindi and Urdu, and Maureen Freely, an expert in Turkish translation, dive into the art of translating Proust's intricate sentences. They discuss how translation choices impact emotional resonance and narrative depth. The conversation highlights the challenges of capturing sensory experiences and cultural nuances, exploring everything from the emotional weight of verbs to the culinary significance of madelines. Their insights reveal the artistry behind making foreign emotions relatable.
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Small Choices Shift Agency
- Different English translations cluster around similar choices but vary in emphasis and agency.
- Small grammatical shifts change whether pleasure is active, passive, or externalized.
Emphasis Alters Rhythm
- English translations toggle emphasis between time markers and the tasting event itself.
- That choice affects rhythm and what the sentence privileges: 'moment' or the sensory detail.
Grammar Determines Subjectivity
- Translators shift agency by choosing active verbs ('I focused') or passive constructions ('was invaded').
- Those grammatical choices shape whether the narrator experiences or is acted upon.
