Newsgroups: bit.listserv.cinema-l
Date:         Tue, 13 Oct 1992 19:23:48 CST
From:         Rick Francis <C47805NF@WUVMD.WUSTL.EDU>
Subject:      Cooper & translation

First, I think Peter misunderstands my basis for mentioning repeatedly
the POTENTIAL for translation.  That is, contrary to his message, I am
not defending translations for better or worse.  I'll be the FIRST to say
that way too many BAD translations are published.  But what's the cure?
*I* believe it begins by recognizing the importance and ubiquity of trans-
lation, rather than pretend they are merely marginal or relatively
unimportant.  As Kelly says in _The True Interpreter_, translation is the
basis for Western Civilization.

Recognizing that, we will realize the importance of serious criticism
of translations.  (Incidentally, I think this is what Comparative
Literature Dep'ts can and should do.)

Peter says that I am confusing adaptation with translation.  It's a fair
charge, and I would like to respond.  As I mentioned to someone else
in private e-mail, none other than Roman Jakobson declared that the
transposition "from one system of signs into another (from verbal art
into music, dance, cinema, or painting" as one of the types of
translation.  You don't have to agree with Jakobson, of course, but he
is anything but some young whippersnapper's claim for shock value.

Peter, it is precisely *because* I read other literatures that I believe
in the need for translation.  I really don't understand how it is that
someone who recognizes the value of literatures in other languages can
fail to want to see our own language try to re-present.
What, are you some kind of commie?  (Just kidding, I've got the debates
one.  :)  )  I don't need translations for all other literatures, but
I still want to share them with my students. One effect of the
watertight lang/lit departments is to produce students of the novel who
nothing of the international novel!  Out of curiosity, do you translate
yourself?

The defense of translation, by the way, did not originate in Comp Lit
departments.  For example, one might argue that the flourishing cultural
life of Spain in the Middle Ages had *much* to do with the Toledo
School of Translators, and the relatively free flow of culture via transla-
tion.  What's wrong with thinking it might vaccinate the US against insularity?
As Pound said, every great age of literature is an age of translation.

I haven't seen _Mohicans_ yet, so I can't respond.  Peter, perhaps you
can provide examples of some borderline cases of translation/adaptation.
Where would you put _Kiss of the Spider Woman_?  Or if you don't know
the book, how about Welles with _The Trial_?  Also, I still don't know
one thing:  could someone make a good film from a flawed book, and still
be faithful to it?  Are you saying that *all* film versions of books are
adaptations, rather than translations?  How about Huston's _The Dead_?
Or _The Big Sleep_, or _Maltese Falcon_?

________________________________________________________________________
Rick Francis  C47805NF@WUVMD      |  * Average percentage change in the
Dep't of Comparative Literature,  |  * GNP during each four-year Democratic
Box 1107                          |  * administration since 1949:  +20
Washington University             |  *
St. Louis, MO  63130              |  * Average percentage change in the GNP
                                  |  * during each four-year Republican
                                  |  * administration:  -9
                                  |
                                  |  * From Harper's Index, August 1992.
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