From: RUKHSANA KHAN <irrualli>
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2001 10:24:08 -0800

The problems I see inherent in translating books from other cultures is bridging the difference in underlying social values. Things that people would take for granted in America as 'universal' truths just aren't necessarily so. And how do you stop the narrative long enough to explain this (and to put the culture into context) to an American reader without interrupting the narrative flow?

Speaking on behalf of my own culture, the stories that would tend to appeal to Pakistani youth would be heavy in plot and action and gloss over a lot of the subtleties that Western readers tend to prefer and dwell on.

Perhaps an Israeli story would work in that regard because the culture is not considered as 'other' as Pakistani culture would be.

I tend to think that American children would not be very patient in delving into the nuances of other cultures. They tend to be more concerned with their own problems which, I suppose makes sense to some degree.

And forgive me, but America, being the only superpower in the world, often appears to come at foreign books (and and foreign cultures) with an attitude that they have little to offer.

This, I say as a Canadian.

I know this is not true of ALL Americans, but this is the general impression I get, both as a person of Pakistani origin and as a Canadian.

Rukhsana
Received on Sat 31 Mar 2001 12:24:08 PM CST