12.2 Benjamin's translation form

TL;DR

Benjamin's text on translation discusses the transcendence of the work of art, the role of translations in communication, and the relationship between different languages.

Transcript

Since I've pointed you towards Walter Benjamin's text on the task of the translator and you are probably struggling to make some sense of it. I'd like to add a few notes showing my personal reading of it. Now, Benjamin, Benjamin's text has been haunting me for many, many years. I think I first encountered it as an undergradl, about where you are no... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥰 The work of art is transcendent and exists beyond the specifics of reception, according to Benjamin.
• ❓ Translations are more communicative than the original because they are intended for specific readers.
• 🛟 Translations extend the life of the text and can change its meaning while maintaining its identity.
• 🖐️ Cultural influences, such as Judeo-Christian ideologies, play a role in shaping the translation process.
• 💁 Different cultures have varying notions of translation, with the Western form being just one among many.
• 🥳 Benjamin's text explores the relationship between different languages as fragmented parts of a more original language.
• 💨 Translations can embody the same function but in different ways based on cultural differences.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the speaker view Benjamin's text on translation based on their personal experiences?

The speaker initially read Benjamin's text as a mystic Jewish hero giving a kabbalistic reading, but their interpretation has evolved over time. They now view it as a fun exploration of translations and enjoy playing with different versions of a text.

Q: How do translations relate to the idea of the work of art existing in a transcendent space?

Benjamin argues that translations are intended for specific readers who can't read the original, making them closer to the specifics of reception and communication. Translations, in a way, bring the work of art closer to the reader.

Q: What key insights can be drawn from Benjamin's text on translation?

1. The work of art is transcendent and exists in a space prior to reception.
2. Translations, by catering to specific readers, are more communicative than the original.
3. Translations extend the life of the text and can change its meaning while maintaining its identity.
4. There is an inherent asymmetry and directionality between translation and the original text.
5. Different languages are fragments of a more original language, and translations put together these pieces.
6. Translations can embody the same function but in different ways based on cultural differences.
7. The translator's form and cultural influences, such as Judeo-Christian ideologies, play a role in shaping the translation process.
8. Different cultures have varying notions of translation, and the Western translation form is just one among many.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker reflects on their personal experience with Benjamin's text and how it has been interpreted by different theorists over the years.

• They use a poem by William Carlos Williams and its translations into Glaswegian Scottish and computer shorthand to demonstrate the different ways translations can exist in relation to the original text.

• Benjamin argues that the work of art exists in a space prior to reception, making translations more communicative than the original by catering to specific readers.