Langintza Xeheki, details of the craft

Although we need solitude to translate, although the task of finding the equivalent word or phrase is one that must be faced alone, the work of translation is nonetheless collaborative and requires the points of view and opinions of others.

Translations, like other written works, need readers and their opinions.

Why is one option chosen above all others to translate the original text? Why not choose the ones that are not chosen? What are and are not the results of this choice? What would the result have been if another choice had been made? These and many others are the issues that arise when we translate or when we finish a translation. What will our readers think? What will our colleagues think?

To address all of these and many other issues, we have established the new Langintza xeheki link on our webpage.

Is it translation criticism? To some extent, but it is more of a discussion among ourselves about the work that we do. Far from Manichaeism, we would like to offer a path to understanding what has been done in each translation and why, a way of helping us to understand our trade. Our goal was to provide a forum in which to reflect on what it is that we do. For that purpose, we will use various models to examine texts in order to get the best out of each. Sometimes the translator him- or herself will explain the reasoning behind his or her work, and sometimes the point of departure will be an outside view, an interview or a debate. It goes without saying that your contributions will be gratefully received so that all of us together may enrich and strengthen Basque translation.