Routledge Translation: A Guide to the Practice of Crafting Target Texts

This practical guide by two experienced translators and translation tutors explores aspects of time, context and culture in a range of translated literary texts, including novels, memoirs, poems and plays. Reflective analytical sections are complemented by a variety of practical tasks that reflect the book’s craft-based approach. Providing a dual focus on both analysis and creativity, this volume helps readers to develop two different skill sets required for translation: deconstruction and reconstruction. To learn how to analyse or deconstruct a source text (ST), the tasks include translating and editing, comparison and analysis of source language (SL) texts and translations, and critiquing or improving target language (TL) texts produced by translators from different times. A range of creative writing challenges reveal the secrets writers use to hook their readers. Whatever language readers translate into, these insights will help them to find their own writer’s voice, making them better equipped to recreate another author’s voice, whatever the time or cultural context. This is the essential guide to improving target texts for all translators and students of translation. Review "This new translation manual will be very useful for both students and teachers. More than just a simple textbook, it enables us to better understand the subtleties of the act of translation, especially with regard to the treatment of literary or academic texts. This textbook – including a large number of examples - gives a very precise vision of the issue of translation." Valentine Zuber, Professor at the École Pratique des Hautes Études-PSL, France "The authors offer a useful, down-to-earth self-study resource for translators wishing to move into literary translation. Supporting creative reflection on the translation task, their macro- and micro-strategy framework provides an excellent starting point for translators’ Continuing Professional Development." Kate Sturge, Translator at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Germany "Bustling with examples from various genres and languages, this accessible and informative guide is essential reading for translators and translation students seeking to improve their practical awareness and develop the creative skills they need to write well. As the market for translated works grows, the authors’ advice on the art of translation is both timely and invaluable." Jonathan Spurrell, translator and editor, USA About the Author Stella Cragie is a Qualified Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and is an ISO 17100:215-qualified translator. She was for many years a principal lecturer in translation at the University of Westminster, where she remains a visiting lecturer. She is also a freelance translator, working from French, Italian and Romanian into English. She was the lead author of the second edition of Thinking Italian Translation, published in 2016, and of Thinking English Translation, published in 2018, and has a special interest in art history and antiques. Ann Pattison is a Fellow of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and is an ISO 17100:215-qualified translator. She has taught translation at the University of Surrey, London Metropolitan University and Imperial College and is a former senior lecturer in translation at the University of Westminster. She now works as a freelance translator, editor and writer. She was co-author of Thinking English Translation, published in 2018. Her novel Notes Out of Time was published on lulu.com, and she has compiled two anthologies of work by members of Sutton Writers. Ann has also had two plays performed in Sutton.