A
vital part of the skill in translating comes from the translator’s
ability to understand cultural references in the source text and
transmit them accurately in the target text. These cultural references
come in many forms: historical facts, comments about political parties
or individual politicians or references to music, art and other forms of
popular culture. This knowledge helps the translator avoid embarrassing
mistakes which could change the meaning of the text or even worse,
cause insult to the reader.
Yet
how do you develop a knowledge of culture? One way is to spend time
living in the country - not just a holiday - but real time spent in
daily activities with real people. Working with them, watching their TV,
reading their literature and spending your spare time with them.
Enjoying their downtime and even feeling their frustrations as the most
simple task becomes a bureaucratic nightmare!
If
you want to capture the essence of Spain and Spanish society you can do
it by reading some excellent books on the topic. Here are my favourite 3
books on Spain - they aren’t academic texts, but they are all very
readable and extremely interesting! Spain by the horns is a more light-hearted read but all 3 books make fascinating reading.
The New Spaniards, John Hooper, Penguin Books 2nd edition, 2006
Ghosts of Spain, Giles Temlett, Faber and Faber, 2007
Spain by the horns, Tim Elliott, Summersdale, 2007
Hope you enjoy reading them too!
