"Instead of stinging nettle, myrtle will rise" (Isaiah 55:13)
 "Instead of evil, good will rise." (The Malbim's Interpretation)
Myrtle Rising
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Comments Policy
  • Aliyah
    • Mini-Intro
    • General Cultural Insights
    • School Tips
  • Kli Yakar Index
  • Privacy Policy

How to Avoid Getting Lost in Translation

29/5/2016

3 Comments

 
My mistrust of translations was one of the things that spurred me on to learn Hebrew beyond the Alef-Bet, present tense, and the yeled-yaldah/talmid-talmidah/moreh-morah that I'd learned in Hebrew school.
 
That, and at the pseudo-Jewish summer camp I was forced to go, one of the counselors enthused about his Hebrew-learning program, concluding with: "And now when I pray, I can actually understand the words! I can actually understand what I'm praying about!"

We all stared at him, awestruck by the new realization.

Just imagine!

To be able to sit through the 3-hour Conservative Shabbat morning prayer service and actually understand the words!
Or to know what we were singing about as we sang all these fun Hebrew songs!

I thought that sounded pretty cool, too.

And in case you were wondering, the Conservative prayer books with the facing English translation rife with "Thee" and "Thou" and "Blessed art...." were not helpful to secular American teenagers educated in public schools.


(Interestingly, Conservative and Reform dogmatists are the first to accuse Orthodox Jews of mindless indoctrination. Yet Orthodox Jews are largely the only group that does actually teach people to understand what they are praying.)

But I digress.

Picture
What He Actually Said vs What They Want to Think He Said

Needless to say,
whoever is doing the translation has complete control over the interpretation and can manipulate it however they want--if they want.

And hopefully they don't.

Yet even the best and most sincere translator struggles with translating Hebrew works into the vastly different and poorer language of English. An entire concept expressed in one Hebrew word may need a whole paragraph of explanation in English.

And this doesn't even begin to cover unconscious personal bias or the plain fact that perfection is impossible and there will always be mistakes in even the best translation.
 
Sometimes, people get upset about something a Sage wrote. But he didn't actually write or mean what that person is upset about. The person is reading a translation that either interpreted the Sage's words incorrectly or interpreted the Sage's words as correctly as possible, but essential nuances are missing because the English term simply does not allow for them.

Of course, translations between linguistically similar languages (like from Arabic to Hebrew) or philosophically similar languages with a lot of linguistic similarities (like Yiddish to Hebrew) can be done with higher accuracy and comprehension.
But still.
 
Screaming, Groaning, and Shining
When I first started reading Breslover books in English, I noticed a lot of talk about "screaming."

You need to "scream out" to Hashem, this one "screamed" something to that group, etc.

And while I liked the philosophies, I was a bit concerned about all the apparent screaming going on in Breslov over the past couple of centuries.

To me, "screaming" is a very loud, high-pitched, ragged sound of sheer terror and panic. And sure enough, the Hebrew word litzok can be translated as "to scream."

But litzok can also mean: to cry out, to shout, to call out, or to yell.

So after I learned Hebrew and also the frum nuances of Hebrew, I could read Breslover books in English and understand what they meant because now I've become familiar with the original Hebrew terms.

This came to a head recently when reading a wonderful and tremendously inspiring book originally written in Yiddish.

And then translated into Hebrew.

And then translated into English.

Fortunately, the translator includes quite a few of the original Yiddish phrases.
Because even with all the similarities between Yiddish and Hebrew, and all the linguistic similarities between Yiddish and English, there are Yiddish terms that don't have an equal in Hebrew or English. For example, "a lichteger teg." It's translated as "a shining day"—which is a good translation. But lichteger teg implies something a lot more geshmak than "a shining day" implies. It's more like a day filled with spiritual light that emanates from you having lived that day right.

Or the value of Yiddisher krechts—translated as "Jewish groaning." And there is really no other way to translate it. Fortunately, the book uses a couple of paragraphs to explain the term.

But my point is that there is no Hebrew or English equivalent to Yiddisher krechts.

And so on.

Thank "Dive," She Doesn't Have to Get Up THAT Early!
Another time, I was happily reading an excellent English translation of a 19th-century work. Yet when it discussed the best way to raise your daughters, it advised parents to regularly wake their daughters up "in the middle of the night" to make their future life as married women easier.

Now that didn't sound good.

So I checked the Hebrew original and sure enough, it said: "b'ohd laila"
--while it is still night. Meaning, one should habituate one's daughters to getting up early in the morning while it is still dark outside so that when she has her own home, she'll already be used to getting an early start on her day and things will go better for her. Which makes sense in the times of no indoor plumbing or electricity, because the earlier a housewife got up, the more smoothly her day went.

And not that you just need to pointlessly roust your ninth-grader out of bed at one o'clock in the morning. ("Mwuhahaha, sweetheart! Just getting you used to having a newborn so you'll be nice and exhausted before you even start! My mussar sefer told me to do this! Ha-ha!")

Another time, an otherwise excellent translation cautioned the reader to be respectful with any terms referring to Hashem, even terms that are in a foreign language like
"Dive, which is the name of G-d in Spanish."

Now, I'm sure that the translator knows that "Dive" is not the Spanish translation of "God."

But it's easier to miss a step when in the Hebrew original, "Dio" is spelled דייו. Which does indeed look like "Dive." Presumably, the original author did not want to spell it דיו because that is the spelling for the Hebrew word "ink."


Furthermore, as the alert Chava of Hava haAharona pointed out in the comments, God's Spanish Name is actually "Dios." So the original author actually meant "Dio, which is the Name of God in Ladino" (which is to Spanish what Yiddish is to German).
 
Thus, the literal translation is: "....it is the Name of God in the Spanish [Sefaradi] language."
 
Sefaradi
can either mean a specific group of Jews, and then it's clear that the author meant Ladino OR it can literally mean "Spanish," in which case the author could mean the official language of Spain.

Here is the Hebrew and an English transliteration so you can see for yourself:
דייו) שהוא שם השם בלשון ספרדי)
(Dio) sheh hu Shem Hashem b'lashon Sefaradi.

It's easy to see why this would cause confusion.


Yet it was still a really good translation with only a couple of blips like that.

Such blips are unavoidable.
 
As we see here, because religious Jews have commonly used more than one language, a translator may also need to know some Arabic, Ladino, Aramaic, or Yiddish when translating an otherwise Hebrew text, which increases the challenge of achieving an accurate and comprehensive translation.

And Some Things, We'll Never Know
Because books like Rav Ibn Paquda's Duties of the Heart, the Rambam's Guide to the Perplexed, and the Ben Ish Chai's Laws for Women were all originally written in Judeo-Arabic, most of us will never be able to consult the original.

In Laws for Women, for example, the original was also written in rhyme. The Hebrew translation maintained the rhyme, but how much of the original meaning did it sacrifice to maintain the rhyme? And then that Hebrew translation has been translated into non-rhyming English.

(The truth is, I got a tremendous amount out of the English translation and I've heard other women enthuse about how much they benefited from the Hebrew translation. So it probably is good reflection of his thoughts, even if certain things are missing.)
 
Just a Tweak Here and There
--For the Greater Good, Of Course
Finally, some translations intentionally omit or add material.

This can happen both with current magazine articles or older books.

I was surprised to discover that the English-speaking world is more censor-prone, both in regard to subject matter and adjusting a written work to fit a type of "frum PC" (as defined by whoever).

(But this can also happen innocently when trying to polish up stylistic points lacking in the Hebrew original.)

Despite the appearance that, say, the Israeli charedi world appears less tolerant or more rigid than than the English-speaking charedi world, this isn't necessarily true. Reading even a modern-day article in the original Hebrew will often portray the truth of a matter more than its polished-for-publication English translation.


Conclusion
Well, these are just some things to keep in mind when reading in translation. 
I'm not saying that translations should be mistrusted altogether; they definitely provide access to invaluable wisdom that would otherwise remain unknown.

But I learned the hard way that they should be read with an open mind and that when a reader comes across something that makes them go "Huh?", the original should be consulted, if possible. And if not possible, then to give the original author the benefit of the doubt.

Picture
"Namorado ao forno" isn't "boyfriend in the oven." Our translators get the job done. No one has to die.
Picture
But what if I prefer bean curd in both ears? Or if I like my vegetarians to be barbecued, rather than "stired fried"?
3 Comments
Chava link
29/5/2016 23:38:34

Hi Dassie,

You had me in stitches there!

I hate to tell you (I'm even hesitant to press submit!), but it can be even worse than what you wrote. For instance, the person who wrote in Hebrew the Spanish word for G-d might have done better with דיוס. Because the word is Dios, not Dio. (Spanish was my Hebrew in high school and college. I would have been told if I hadn't said or spelled it right. Who knows, they might have kicked me out of class. NOT.) Dio might be His name in another Latin language, but not Spanish.

Unless דיוס means something else in Hebrew that I have no idea of and might be even more offensive! Oy. Va. Voy!

I usually don't write about this because my Spanish speech has deteriorated greatly, due to my learning Hebrew. Finally Hebrew has its proper place in my brain, and Spanish will just have to find its own spot. But I can still read and understand when I hear it spoken. And translate.

I appreciate all the work you do translating the works of the Kli Yakar, and as you know, I have had my own translation trials and tribulations. How worthwhile it is when you know your readers appreciate the end product!

שלום וברכה
Chava

Reply
Myrtle Rising (Dassie)
30/5/2016 15:48:51

Well, Chava, I'm very glad you pressed "Submit" because I learned several things that I didn't know, and I'm very glad to know them now. (Also, your kind and good-humored comments are much appreciated. Thank you!)
Based on your information, the post has now been updated.

So here is the lesson learned and I think you'll agree that it's quite beautiful: Ladino-speaking Jews changed God's Name from the Spanish "Dios" to the Ladino "Dio" because they felt the "s" implied a heretical plurality. Furthermore, Sefardi Jews always referred to Hashem as El Dio to emphasize that He is THE One True God. That is a pretty gutsy and firm stance in the face of old-time Christendom. Please see here: http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Spanish-Ladino/Ladino-Vocabulary.htm

Now, if only a Portuguese-speaker would write in and explain to me what "Namorado ao forno" REALLY means. ;)

Reply
Chava link
30/5/2016 14:11:34

Interesting, Dassie! Thank you so much for the explanation of Dio vs. Dios. So whoever the author was is more aware of Ladino than I (which isn't saying much...I never learned it.). Better yet, this person is probably a Ladino speaker (I knew one such woman from my last chu"l synagogue; she (or her family) was from Turkey. So I know they still exist...) in addition to Hebrew and whatever else.

Courageous they were indeed.

I wish my friend who immersed herself in Portuguese were here to tell you what "Namorado ao forno" really means (she passed away maybe 2-and-a-half years ago.). However, there are others, real native Portuguese speakers, in Yerushalayim. I hear some of them live in Har Nof and Bayit v'Gan. You might get your wish yet.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Help a frum family get their children back!:
    http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/please-help-frum-family-under-attack-from-esav

    Picture
    Please note this is an affiliate link. Meaning, I get a small cut but at NO extra cost to you. If you use it, I'm grateful. If not, you still get a giant mitzvah connected to Eretz Yisrael.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Myrtle Rising

    I'm a middle-aged housewife and mother in Eretz Yisrael who likes to read and write a lot.


    Picture
    Sample Chapters

    Categories

    All
    Aliyah
    Anti Jewish Bigotry
    Astronomy
    Book Review
    Books
    Chagim/Holidays
    Chinuch
    Coronavirus
    Dictionaries
    Emuna
    Eretz Yisrael
    Erev Rav
    Gender
    Hitbodedut
    "If The Torah..."
    Jewish Astrology
    Kav Hayashar
    Kli Yakar
    Lashon Hara
    Love
    Minchat Yehudah
    Mishlei/Proverbs
    Netivot Shalom
    Parenting
    Parsha
    Pele Yoetz
    Perek Shira
    Pesach
    Politics
    Prayer
    Purim
    Rav Avigdor Miller
    Rav Itamar Schwartz
    Rav L.Y. Bender
    Recipes
    "Regular" Jews
    Rosh Hashanah
    Society
    Sukkot
    Tammuz
    Technology
    Tehillim/Psalms
    Teshuvah
    The Lost Princess
    Tisha B'Av
    USA Scary Direction
    Women
    Yom Kippur

    Jewish Blogs

    Daf Yomi Review
    Derech Emet
    Going...Habayitah
    Halacha Q&A
    Hava haAharona
    Lazer Beams

    Miriam Adahan
    My Perspective

    Shirat Devorah
    Shuvu Banim
    Spiritual Coaching
    Tomer Devorah
    Toras Avigdor
    True Tzaddikim
    Tznius Blog

    Yeranen Yaakov
    Rabbi Ofer Erez (English)
    Rabbi Ofer Erez (Hebrew lectures)

    Jewish Current Events

    Hamodia
    Lemon Lime Moon
    Shuvu Banim
    Sultan Knish
    Tomer Devorah
    Yeranen Yaakov

    Jewish Health

    People Smarts
    Heliotrope Holistic Health Services

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    RSS Feed

    Copyright Notice

    ©2015-2021 Myrtle Rising
    Excerpts and links may be used without express permission as long as a link is provided back to the appropriate Myrtle Rising page.

Home/Blog

Contact

Comment Policy

Aliyah

Kli Yakar in English

Copyright © 2020
Photos used under Creative Commons from Brett Jordan, BAMCorp, Terrazzo, Abode of Chaos, Michele Dorsey Walfred, marklordphotography, M.Burak Erbaş, torbakhopper, jhritz, Rina Pitucci (Tilling 67), Svadilfari, kum111, Tim simpson1, FindYourSearch, Giorgio Galeotti, ChrisYunker, Jaykhuang, YourCastlesDecor, bluebirdsandteapots, Natalia Medd, Stefans02, ElleFlorio, Israel_photo_gallery, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, BradPerkins, zeevveez, dfarrell07, h.koppdelaney, Edgardo W. Olivera, nafrenkel88, zeevveez, mtchlra, Liz | populational, TraumaAndDissociation, thinboyfatter, garofalo.christina, skpy, Free Grunge Textures - www.freestock.ca, Nerru, Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith, trendingtopics, dolbinator1000, DonkeyHotey, zeevveez, erix!, zeevveez, h.koppdelaney, MAURO CATEB, kevin dooley, keepitsurreal, annikaleigh, bjornmeansbear, publicdomainphotography, Leonard J Matthews, Exile on Ontario St, Nicholas_T, marcoverch, planman, PhilWolff, j_lai, t.kunikuni, zeevveez, Ian W Scott, Brett Jordan, RonAlmog, Bob Linsdell, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, aaron_anderer, ** RCB **, Tony Webster, mypubliclands, r0sita, AntonStetner, Zachi Evenor, MrJamesBaker, sammydavisdog, Frode Ramone, Wonder woman0731, wrachele, kennethkonica, Skall_Edit, Pleuntje, Rennett Stowe, *S A N D E E P*, symphony of love, AlexanderJonesi, Arya Ziai, ePublicist, Enokson, Tony Webster, Art4TheGlryOfGod, seaternity, Andrew Tarvin, zeevveez, Israel_photo_gallery, Iqbal Osman1, Matt From London, Tribes of the World, Eric Kilby, miracle design, RonAlmog, slgckgc, Kim Scarborough, DonkeyHotey, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, h.koppdelaney, gleonhard, Pedro Travassos, nociveglia, RonAlmog, Israel_photo_gallery, Septemia, Paulann_Egelhoff, Tatiana12, MAD Hippies Life, Neta Bartal, milesgehm, shooting brooklyn, RonAlmog, smilygrl, gospelportals, leighblackall, symensphotographie, zeevveez, Kyknoord, wotashot (taking a break), Tambako the Jaguar, bitmask, Arnie Sacknooson, mattymatt, Rob Swystun, zeevveez, Dun.can, Tim Patterson, timeflicks, garlandcannon, HRYMX, fred_v, Yair Aronshtam, random exposure, zeevveez, Ron Cogswell, FindYourSearch, Israel_photo_gallery, Serendipity Diamonds, zeevveez, Steve Corey, Dominic's pics, leighklotz, Stefans02, dannyman, RonAlmog, Stephen O, RonAlmog, Tips For Travellers, Futurilla, anomalous4, Bob Linsdell, AndyMcLemore, symphony of love, miketnorton, andydr, BLM Nevada, sara~, Gamma Man, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, robef, European Southern Observatory, Brett Jordan, Johnny Silvercloud, Israel_photo_gallery, smkybear, --Sam--, Paulann_Egelhoff, Selena Sheridan, D'oh Boy, campbelj45ca, 19melissa68, entirelysubjective, Leimenide, dheera.net, Brett Jordan, HonestReporting.com, Iqbal Osman1, One Way Stock, Jake Waage, picto:graphic, Marcelo Alves, KAZVorpal, Sparkle Motion, Brett Jordan, Ambernectar 13, Howdy, I'm H. Michael Karshis, Steven DuBois, Cristian V., tortuga767, Jake Cvnningham, D'oh Boy, Eric Kilby, quinn.anya, Lenny K Photography, One Way Stock, Bird Eye, ell brown, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Kevin M. Gill, lunar caustic, gerrybuckel, quinn.anya, Kaz Andrew, kodomut, kayugee, jintae kim's photography, Futurilla, terri_bateman, Patty Mooney, Amydeanne, Paulann_Egelhoff, Mulling it Over, Ungry Young Man, Ruth and Dave, yangouyang374, symphony of love, kennethkonica, young@art, Brett Jordan, slgckgc, Celestine Chua, rkimpeljr, Kristoffer Trolle, TooFarNorth, D'oh Boy, Grace to You, LittleStuff.me, Dikshant Shahi, Kevin M. Gill, philozopher, traveltipy.com, Alan Cleaver, crazyoctopus, d_vdm, tonynetone, penjelly, TheToch, JohnE777, hello-julie, DaveBleasdale, Michael Candelori Photography, andessurvivor, slgckgc, byzantiumbooks, sasha diamanti