Translation isn’t about specific word choice. It’s about meaning.
But, then, there are many different kinds of translation. The very old act of translation both creates and defends language in an interconnected world. Earlier this summer, I finished a 2011 book by translator David Bellos called “Is that a Fish in Your Ear: Translation and the Meaning of Everything.” [PDF] Find a review here of it. This is a different approach to understanding language, which has been an interest of mine for years.
You should read the book. For my own purposes, I’ve captured my notes below.
Continue reading Is that a Fish in Your Ear? notes on the 2011 book by David Bellos on translation