Importance of translations to literature
Given the greater degree of proliferation of literatures across the
cultural and linguistic frontiers, the role of translations in a given
literary culture, as means of enriching literature cannot be undermined.
The fact remains that most of the great works of literature were and are
made accessible to larger audience through translations.
Classic examples for qualitative translations are the English
translations of Russian literary works; great literary works which are
undoubtedly masterpieces in literature such as Leo Tolstoy's "War and
Peace", Nicolai Gogol's "Dead Souls" were made accessible to global
audience through their English translations. Another landmark in this
area is the translation of Boris Pasternak's "Dr. Zivago" into English.
First, it was rejected by the Soviet journal Novye Mir. It was published
first in Russian and in Italian translation by the publisher Feltrinelli
in Milan in 1957, after the Italian journalist Sergio D'Angelo had
smuggled the manuscript out of Russia. The English translation appeared
in 1958 and the same year Pasternak was bestowed with Nobel Prize for
Literature though he did not accept the award.
One of the important aspects of this process is that such
translations will enrich the host language. English, Lingua franca of
this milieu is the preferred language into which most of original
literary works written in host of languages were translated. English
translations were subsequently rendered into local and regional
languages such as Hindi, Sinhala and Tamil etc. Byproduct of this
bi-directional process is raising the standards of the host language
into which original literary work were translated.
For instance, the standard and idioms of Sinhala translations of
Russian literary work are often higher than some of the original
literary work in Sinhala. However, it does not mean that original
literary works such as those of Martin Wickremasinghe are inferior to
Sinhala translations of Russian literary work. The important point I
want to make here is that Sinhala translations over the years have made
into a different genre of literature which in turn, had made a positive
impact on local literary culture.
The influence of world literature in general and English translations
of Russian literary works in particular on Sinhala writers such as
Martin Wickremasinghe and Gunadasa Amerasekara is a well documented. In
fact, world literature had influenced the origin and evolution of
Sinhala novel.
Rich Sinhalese tradition of translations
Examining the early works of Sinhala translations, one may come to
the conclusion that Sri Lanka had a rich tradition of translations with
perceptive translators. For instance, almost all the Russian literary
works which had been translated into Sinhala are equally good literary
works in Sinhala. One of the attributes of the qualitative Sinhala
translations is the bi-lingual perceptive translators. Translators such
as Dadigama V Rodrigo and Padmaharsha Kuranage who translated Russian
works directly from Russian to Sinhala. A new generation of a writer who
is continuing this tradition is tri-lingual Dr Palitha Ganewatte who is
domiciled in Sydney, Australia. He has translated a collection of Anton
Chekov's short stories directly into Sinhala from Russian language to
commemorate Chekov's 100th death Anniversary.
Martin Wickremasinghe, Reggie Siriwardene and K.G. Karunatilaka were
bi-lingual translators and on some instances, multi-linguals. One of the
important facets of those translators was that they were well versed in
both Sinhala and international languages. They had a thorough grasp on
the Sinhala literary culture and literary theories of the milieu. An
important characteristic of their work is the tapestry of rich idioms
and metaphors in Sinhala. In essence, they have captured the
quintessential characteristics of Sinhala language. In the process of
translating English literary and non-literary works into Sinhala, they
have, on some instances, invented Sinhala words which enriched the
Sinhala vocabulary. Literary giants like Martin Wickremasinghe, Munidasa
Kumaratunga and latter day translators such as Edwin Ariyadasa have
invented Sinhala words for English terms. For instance Sinhala words
such as Parinamaya (evolution) and Antharjalaya (Internet) were
introduced by Martin Wickremasinghe and Edwin Ariyadasa respectively.
Wimal Dissanayake has coined new words such as Alochana (insights) and
Sthana Vinnanaya (sense of place).
Sri Lankan literature in English
Although Sri Lankan Literature in English seems to have little or
nothing to do with translations, tradition of translations particularly
of Sinhala literary work into English has a domino effect on the Sri
Lankan literature in English. It seems that most of the Sri Lankan
authors in English albeit they are fluent speakers of both Sinhala and
English languages, are entertaining erroneous notions that some of the
culturally specific Sinhala terms can be adapted either in their
original form or a form which is closer to the original, in literary
works in English. Direct translations of such Sinhala terms into English
have greatly reduced the literary value of the work in English though
they are not translations. Instead of translating such terms into
English, what Sri Lankan writers in English should have done, is to
device a diction which is quite capable of expressing authentic Sri
Lankan experiences in English. Surely the answer to this predicament is
not to promote substandard version of English called 'Sri Lankan
English'.
Parlous state of translations
Over the years the once rich Sri Lankan tradition of translations
has, unfortunately, reduced into a proverbial pulp making industry.
Although there are exceptional translations, most of the translations
both from English into Sinhala and vice versa belonged to the above
category. They are marked for their inferior quality of language,
causing irreparable damages to the original author. For instance, in
some of the Sinhalese translations, original works often in English have
been indiscriminately reduced into one third offering only the part of
anatomy of the work to the Sinhala readers. The important questions are
that what is the right of the translator to reduce the original work
into one third of it? Has the translator done justice to the readers? Or
is the translator a traitor to both the original writer as well as to
readers who are eagerly waiting for quality translations?
Translating Sinhala literary work into English
Sri Lankan translators, particularly, those who translate from
Sinhala into English, seem to have been suffering from lack of words and
idioms' syndrome. Symptoms of this are manifested in works of Sri Lankan
Writers in English in general and translations of Sinhala fiction in
English in particular. Since the awards can no longer be considered as
criteria, for obvious reasons, in determining the quality and standards
of Sinhala fiction in English translations, it is pertinent to look at
the work at disposal and to pose the question "why Sri Lankan
translations in English have not travelled beyond our shores? And why so
called translators have not reached the international audience?" Though
lack of exposure of Sri Lankan literature in abroad may play a role in
this regard, it is obviously not the sole and exclusive reasons for this
sorry state of affairs.
Semi-literate Nanny in translations
Instead of bi-linguals who dominated translation industry in a land,
contemporary literary landscape is dominated by semi-literate tribe
concealing their naked ignorance under the glittering garments of
awards.
For instance, an infamous Nanny who recently won an award or robbed
an award thanks to her daughter who was one of the judges in the panel,
had came out to defend a 'Meditating Author' who won an award for her
unreadable text.
The Nanny's outburst was resultant in her tribal affiliations with
the 'Meditating Author' and few others who had robbed awards. This semi-civilised
tribe is marked for its capacity of the cranium which is different to
other tribes.
It should be stated here that particularly this Nanny in translations
is famous for her 'Award winning' English translations of fiction
written in her mother tongue. Predominant characteristic of those so
called fiction in English translation is the process of converting sense
into nonsense. Her work is crawling with structural defects and
particularly marked for turning of phrases into English in their
rudimentary forms. This in turn had produced an idiom which is neither
her mother tongue nor English.
Future of translations in English
The future prospects of translations in English rest on the competent
bi-lingual translators who could translate Sinhala fiction into English,
expressing the authentic native experiences in English. Such
translations have the potentials of reaching out to international
audience. If the present trend would continue it would not only destroy
original literary work in Sinhala but also tarnish the names of Sri
Lankan authors in the eyes of readers in a globalized world. |