Today I happened upon an example of inexcusably and hilariously poor translation. I recognize that translating poetry is very difficult, and this is an admirable effort presumably by a very accomplished and scholarly gentleman, but still--no excuses. Take a gander at this excerpt:
Our high-pooped barge glides by the marge
Of tributary flume:
Breasting the maze of floods we raise
A crest of creamy spume.
--from "Lines on the Autumn Wind," Liu Che, translator (fortunately) unknown to me
Even ignoring its awkward archaicism and near-incomprehensibility, this is a prime example of tone-deaf English. "high-pooped"?? "creamy spume"?!?!
For shame, translator, for shame.
(tee hee. 'creamy spume')
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2 comments:
you, sir, are an utter juvenile.
in response to the translation, i believe i will quote your last blog entry: loooooooooool
creamy spume is delicious.
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