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English Works Absent from Esperanto

de Breto, 13 de agosto de 2015

Aportes: 18

Idioma: English

Breto (Mostrar perfil) 13 de agosto de 2015 19:05:11

I think I'd like to sit down and try to translate something into Esperanto, mostly for the practice. But it occurs to me that, if I can translate something people are actually looking for, there's no reason I shouldn't be contributing if I can.

So, two questions then:

1) What would be a good work (novel or play or I suppose even history or scientific literature or whatever) that people would desire to read, is in the public domain, is originally English, and is difficult or impossible to find in Esperanto?

2) Would it be smarter for me to ask this question in the Esperanto forums than here?

erinja (Mostrar perfil) 13 de agosto de 2015 19:42:09

I think the English forum is a fine place to ask since you're talking about English-language literature.

I couldn't tell you what needs translation but if I were you I'd translate something that I enjoy, a work that you are familiar with. Translation is time-consuming and it makes it easier if it's a work that you enjoy. I'd start with a shorter text, not a long novel.

sudanglo (Mostrar perfil) 14 de agosto de 2015 10:12:29

There is apparently a major problem in obtaining permissions for popular English titles not out of copyright. Of course, there is nothing to stop you from translating anything for your own private consumption but you may run in to problems if you want it to be published - whether as hard copy or in electronic form.

What might get round this problem, and which might be very well received by the Esperantists, is a book illustrating different genres or styles in modern literature. So you would take one chapter from a horror story, another from a policier, another from science fiction, another from a spy thriller.

You might also find that the reaction to one of these chapters is so positive that you could then crowd source the financing of the translation of the whole book. Though, of course the problem of getting permission for that remains. But at least you might be able to judge what you could realistically pay for the translation rights.

Armed with an indication of how many people are ready to pre-order and at what price, you then might be able to get a deal from the publishers of the original for a specific print-run.

Whatever you do, make sure that you submit your translation for review (including by alilingvanoj) before publication. One of the problems in Esperanto publishing is that the texts are not professionally edited first.

Just the little translation competitions that are run from time to time in the Forum here demonstrate how often a translation can be improved by incorporating elements from various contributors, and some of the very good published translations in Esperanto have been produced by a team of translators working together.

Breto (Mostrar perfil) 14 de agosto de 2015 17:42:58

@erinja
I suppose you're right; I may be setting the bar a bit high there. Perhaps I should aim more for a short story than a full novel. I was looking for suggestions, though, because that "things I enjoy" category does surprisingly little to narrow things down. okulumo.gif

@sudanglo
I was hoping to sidestep the issue of permissions by going with something in the public domain. While it might be fun to translate something more modern, I'll admit I'm not really willing to put that amount of effort into it right out of the gate. Now, if I'm able to put something together that people enjoy, and if it turns out there's actually some amount of money in it for me, then that might be worth running the permissions obstacle course.

Breto (Mostrar perfil) 14 de agosto de 2015 19:46:22

Armand6:Most works in PD are total shit people won't read even under pain of death. The best way to promote Esperanto are counterfeit bestseller translations, but people are too lazy to translate such books.
There is not even LotR available in Esperanto yet, or SoIaF, or whatever.
Well, I'm not interested in counterfeiting anything, at least as much because of the potential headache that could result as for any moral issues I might have. Besides, I thought there already was an Esperanto version of Lord of the Rings out there somewhere. Am I wrong?

Vestitor (Mostrar perfil) 14 de agosto de 2015 19:53:43

Armand6:
There is not even LotR available in Esperanto yet, or SoIaF, or whatever.
Best news I've heard today.

Tempodivalse (Mostrar perfil) 14 de agosto de 2015 20:01:08

Armand6:Most works in PD are total shit people won't read even under pain of death.
Are you kidding?? Ever peeked at the Eneido or Iliado? They are some of the finest early translated works.

The reason contemporary works are not often available in translation is because most of them are still under copyright.

robbkvasnak (Mostrar perfil) 14 de agosto de 2015 20:12:34

Since you apparently are from the US and familiar with US culture (knowing the culture is an important part of translation) try something short from the US, like maybe a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. There are probably no copy right issues there. Or Mark Twain. Both of these authors are excellent examples of our literature and, though older, still very entertaining to read. I am trying to translate "Lost Horizon" by James Hilton but since I am not from GB I am finding some parts hard to really understand. You will see that once you really try to translate something you are faced with understanding it completely. That is hard.
I translated a poem written by my husband in Portuguese. Fortunately, he speaks Esperanto and so we were able to collaborate closely on it. At first I thought I understood it well but once I started translating I quickly saw that there are many details in writing that we assume to understand but which can prove to be real enigmas.

Miland (Mostrar perfil) 14 de agosto de 2015 20:18:38

Breto:Would it be smarter for me to ask this question in the Esperanto forums?
In my view, that is a good idea. There you might well find people who want to know about particular writings or speeches, and putting them into Esperanto will be a service to them. If complete translations turn out to be too tedious a task, you could settle for a summary in Esperanto. Try posting the question on the Esperanto-speaking forum and see what happens. Good luck!

Vestitor (Mostrar perfil) 14 de agosto de 2015 21:08:33

Has anyone translated The 39 Steps by John Buchan? It's quite short and a good brisk read. Better than all that fantasy malarkey, which is confusing enough in English.

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