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Off topic: The work of a translator...
Thread poster: Michael Grant
Michael Grant
Michael Grant
Japan
Local time: 11:08
Japanese to English
Oct 17, 2011

The work of a translator is like:

the work of an artist who is asked to create an exact replica of a marble statue but who cannot secure any marble.


The quote is attributed to Werner Winter, accomplished linguist/German U-boat commander(!!!), found here: http://www.translationdirectory.com/article13.htm

Google Translator is like creating a replica of the marble statue in a single color of clay, which reproduces only a rough likeness. While we human translators, using an array of colors, textures, and mixed-media, create replicas that reproduce not only the figure, but all of the colors and veins that are found in the marble as well.

What do you think? What other great metaphors do you have for what we do??

MGrant
 


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The work of a translator...






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