Deepa Bhasthi on Translation: Inhabiting New Linguistic Worlds
Deepa Bhasthi discusses translation, cultural nuances, and linguistic power dynamics.
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At The Hindu Lit for Life, Deepa Bhasthi discussed the politics and power dynamics behind translating Kannada into English, emphasizing that there is no such thing as proper English. During the session titled “Reimagining stories”, Bhasthi, in conversation with Nandini Krishnan, focused on her translation of Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp. She highlighted her role as an editor, interpreter, and cultural custodian, shaping Mushtaq’s literary voice in English.
Bhasthi retained culturally specific terms without footnotes to allow the English version to carry an accent and a lived social texture, inviting readers to inhabit another linguistic world. She also addressed the marginalization of translators and the need for reviewers to acknowledge the labor and thinking behind every line.
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper 1: Indian culture, literature, and art forms
GS Paper 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources.
GS Paper 4: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in Human Actions
Visual Insights
Translation & Cultural Context
Mind map showing the key aspects of translation discussed by Deepa Bhasthi, including cultural context, linguistic diversity, and the role of the translator.
Translation
- ●Cultural Relativism
- ●Linguistic Diversity
- ●Translator's Role
- ●Power Dynamics
More Information
Background
The history of translation in India is deeply intertwined with its multilingual and multicultural fabric. From ancient times, religious texts like the Vedas and Buddhist scriptures were translated into various Prakrit languages to reach wider audiences. During the Mughal era, Persian became the court language, leading to translations of Sanskrit and regional literature into Persian.
The British colonial period saw a surge in translations of English literature and legal texts into Indian languages, shaping modern Indian literature and legal systems. Post-independence, the Sahitya Akademi has played a crucial role in promoting translation between Indian languages, fostering national integration and cultural exchange. The emphasis on translation also reflects the ongoing efforts to bridge the linguistic divide and make knowledge accessible across different linguistic communities.
Latest Developments
Recent years have witnessed a growing recognition of the importance of translation in various fields, including literature, technology, and business. The rise of digital platforms and globalization has further fueled the demand for translation services. There is an increasing focus on machine translation and artificial intelligence to automate and expedite the translation process.
However, the debate continues regarding the quality and accuracy of machine translation compared to human translation, especially in nuanced literary works. Furthermore, there's a growing movement to recognize and compensate translators fairly for their intellectual labor and creative contributions. Government initiatives and policies are also being implemented to promote translation and linguistic diversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the main topic discussed by Deepa Bhasthi, and why is it relevant in the context of cultural understanding?
Deepa Bhasthi discussed translation, particularly from Kannada to English, emphasizing the politics and power dynamics involved. It's relevant because it highlights the importance of preserving cultural nuances and linguistic diversity in translated works, challenging the dominance of 'proper' English and promoting cross-cultural understanding.
2. According to Deepa Bhasthi, what role does a translator play beyond simply converting words from one language to another?
Bhasthi views the translator as an editor, interpreter, and cultural custodian. This means the translator shapes the literary voice in the target language, preserves cultural context, and ensures the original work's social texture is maintained.
3. How does Deepa Bhasthi's approach to translation, specifically retaining culturally specific terms, challenge conventional translation practices?
By retaining culturally specific terms without footnotes, Bhasthi aims to allow the English version to carry an accent and a lived social texture. This challenges the conventional practice of assimilating the text into standard English, instead inviting readers to inhabit another linguistic world.
4. What are the recent developments that highlight the importance of translation in today's world, as mentioned in the background context?
Recent developments include a growing recognition of translation's importance in literature, technology, and business. The rise of digital platforms and globalization has fueled the demand for translation services, with increasing focus on machine translation and AI.
5. What is the significance of reviewers acknowledging the labor and thinking behind every line of a translated work, as highlighted by Deepa Bhasthi?
Acknowledging the translator's work helps combat the marginalization of translators and recognizes the intellectual effort involved in accurately and effectively conveying the meaning and cultural nuances of the original text. This recognition is crucial for promoting fair compensation and respect for translators.
6. In the context of the discussion, what are some key personalities to remember for the UPSC exam?
For the UPSC exam, remember Deepa Bhasthi, who discussed translation and cultural nuances. Also, remember Banu Mushtaq, the author of 'Heart Lamp,' which Bhasthi translated. Nandini Krishnan is also relevant as she was in conversation with Bhasthi.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the role of translation in preserving cultural heritage: 1. Translation facilitates the understanding and appreciation of diverse literary traditions. 2. It helps in disseminating knowledge and ideas across linguistic barriers. 3. Translation primarily focuses on commercial texts and has limited impact on cultural preservation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: A
Statements 1 and 2 are correct as translation plays a vital role in understanding and disseminating cultural knowledge. Statement 3 is incorrect because translation is crucial for preserving and promoting cultural heritage, not just commercial texts.
2. Which of the following statements accurately reflects the challenges faced by translators in India? 1. Translators often receive adequate recognition and compensation for their work. 2. Maintaining the cultural nuances and context of the original text is a significant challenge. 3. Machine translation has completely eliminated the need for human translators. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.2 and 3 only
Show Answer
Answer: B
Statement 2 is correct. Translators often struggle to maintain the cultural nuances of the original text. Statement 1 is incorrect as translators are often marginalized. Statement 3 is incorrect as machine translation is not yet capable of replacing human translators, especially in literary works.
3. Assertion (A): Retaining culturally specific terms in translation, without footnotes, can enrich the target language. Reason (R): It allows readers to experience the cultural context of the original text more authentically. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- B.Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
- C.A is true, but R is false
- D.A is false, but R is true
Show Answer
Answer: A
Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why retaining culturally specific terms enriches the target language by providing a more authentic cultural experience.
Source Articles
Re-imagining stories: When language travels honestly - The Hindu
Sahitya Akademi invites entries for translation prize - The Hindu
International Translation Day | The power of community for India’s young translators with mentors, peer resources, grants and scholarships - The Hindu
Jadavpur University hosts translation festival to celebrate India’s linguistic diversity - The Hindu
From Tagore to today: 5 Indian works brought alive in translation - The Hindu