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Books in translation
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From: Nina A Lindsay <NALINDSA>
Date: Fri, 06 Mar 98 14:57 CST
Good question Marc. I think that when I've suggested translated books, they've been in the context of a particular request. For instance -- a popular middle school/high school book report assignment is to read a book set in a different country. "The Boys of St. Petri" and Uri Orlev's books are usually easy to booktalk in this context. I don't think I've ever made special mention of the translation. But a translated book, in this market of children's book publishing, has almost by definition something "special" about it that makes it stand out. It's been translated, in many cases I think, because there's nothing else like it. And this is what makes me suggest it, and what makes kids take it up.
On a slight tangent: two other books I often use for this request (of books set in a different country) are Lyll Becerra de Jenkins' "Celebrating the Hero" and Kyoko Mori's "Shizuko's Daughter." These are both examples of books written by non-native English speakers. I remember Lyll de Jenkins saying that she writes her books in English because she can't say what she wants to say otherwise in Spanish. She's "a different person in Spanish." In both these books I'm very aware of the language. Both women use English in beautiful, astounding ways --primarily because they are wonderful writers, but also, I'd surmise, because they acquired the language after their native one. I'm intrigued by how the lines start to blur -- how about self-translated books as opposed to having a translator separate from the author? What are the dynamics of author/translator collaboration? How come I often feel as if I'm trying to write in a foreign language?!
Nina Lindsay nalindsa at macc.wisc.edu
Received on Fri 06 Mar 1998 02:57:00 PM CST
Date: Fri, 06 Mar 98 14:57 CST
Good question Marc. I think that when I've suggested translated books, they've been in the context of a particular request. For instance -- a popular middle school/high school book report assignment is to read a book set in a different country. "The Boys of St. Petri" and Uri Orlev's books are usually easy to booktalk in this context. I don't think I've ever made special mention of the translation. But a translated book, in this market of children's book publishing, has almost by definition something "special" about it that makes it stand out. It's been translated, in many cases I think, because there's nothing else like it. And this is what makes me suggest it, and what makes kids take it up.
On a slight tangent: two other books I often use for this request (of books set in a different country) are Lyll Becerra de Jenkins' "Celebrating the Hero" and Kyoko Mori's "Shizuko's Daughter." These are both examples of books written by non-native English speakers. I remember Lyll de Jenkins saying that she writes her books in English because she can't say what she wants to say otherwise in Spanish. She's "a different person in Spanish." In both these books I'm very aware of the language. Both women use English in beautiful, astounding ways --primarily because they are wonderful writers, but also, I'd surmise, because they acquired the language after their native one. I'm intrigued by how the lines start to blur -- how about self-translated books as opposed to having a translator separate from the author? What are the dynamics of author/translator collaboration? How come I often feel as if I'm trying to write in a foreign language?!
Nina Lindsay nalindsa at macc.wisc.edu
Received on Fri 06 Mar 1998 02:57:00 PM CST
