Galadriel's death - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Aiwendil · 12-02-2005, 06:12 PM

Translation is a difficult art, to be sure. There is always a conflict between a literal rendering and an idiomatic rendering. HerenIstarion gives a great example of an idiomatic rendering. Beleg gives an example of a very poor one. I think that a lot of translators (not just of LotR, but in general) err on that side, feeling the need to 'interpret' when a literal translation would be preferable.

12-02-2005, 06:12 PM	#7
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	Translation is a difficult art, to be sure. There is always a conflict between a literal rendering and an idiomatic rendering. HerenIstarion gives a great example of an idiomatic rendering. Beleg gives an example of a very poor one. I think that a lot of translators (not just of LotR, but in general) err on that side, feeling the need to 'interpret' when a literal translation would be preferable.