Authentic Translation vs. Imitation

The speaker notes the importance of authentic translation which involves carrying over one language into another, as opposed to imitation where translations sound very similar or adhere to the original word order. The speaker discovered the significance of this distinction when examining translations of Bergwald that did not fully capture the essence of the original Italian text. This realization led to a deeper appreciation for the contemporary colloquial diction found in books like Inferno and Purgatorio, emphasizing the role of authenticity in translation work.