Posted on July 7, 2023 at 9:08 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
The latest incident highlighting translators' battle for respect comes out of the British Museum.
There, an exhibit had used translations by Yilin Wang — a translator, poet, and editor — without crediting or compensating her.
When Wang noted the copyright infringement on Twitter, the museum removed the translations and offered a payment, but Wang told the Guardian that it's a simplistic response to a complex issue.
"It’s really important to respect the labour of translators, who are often erased in publishing and academia," she said.
This theme has been echoed by many translators, including the award-winning and well-known Jennifer Croft.
Translators and advocates emphasize that the craft is far, far more than replicating the original work in another language — though that in and of itself takes incredible skill.
It's a bridge between cultures, across decades and even centuries.
Read more about translators' push for recognition in the Guardian.
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Categories: Today in Books