Fantasy in Translation

Imaginary Worlds

Eric Molinsky

Arts, Science Fiction, Fiction, Society & Culture

4.8 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 12 November 2020

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Since we can’t pick up universal translators on The Enterprise or through the TARDIS, we have to rely on human translators to bring fantasy stories across cultures. We all know that something is always lost in translation, but what is gained when a story transitions from one language and culture to another? Chen Malul tells the story of Israeli pilots who translated The Hobbit while in captivity. Olga Zilberbourg remembers the Soviet version of The Wizard of Oz – which was very different from the original story. Emily Jin discusses the nuances of translating Chinese science fiction at a time when everyday life in China feels like sci-fi. And translators Gord Sellar and Jihyun Park explain how feminism revitalized SF literature in South Korea. Stories mentioned in this episode: National Center for the Preservation of Human Dignity The Flowering Today's episode is brought to you by ConvertKit and BetterHelp. Want to advertise/sponsor our show? We have partnered with AdvertiseCast to handle our advertising/sponsorship requests. They’re great to work with and will help you advertise on our show. Please email [email protected] or click the link below to get started. Imaginary Worlds AdvertiseCast Listing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Tab for a cause is a browser extension that lets you raise money for charity while doing
0:04.9	your thing online.
0:06.6	Whenever you open a new tab, you'll see a beautiful background photo and a small ad.
0:11.6	And part of that ad money goes towards a charity of your choice.
0:15.6	It's free and incredibly easy.
0:18.1	Transform your tabs into a force for good in just 30 seconds.
0:22.4	Sign up at tabforacaws.org slash imaginary worlds.
0:29.6	We're listening to imaginary worlds.
0:31.2	I show about how we create them and why we suspend our disbelief.
0:34.6	American Lensky.
0:36.8	Science fiction has long imagined a universal translator, from Star Trek to Dr. Who to the
0:42.3	Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
0:44.9	Since none of that technology exists, we have to rely on human beings.
0:50.0	And human beings have a big challenge when translating fantasy literature, because fantasy
0:54.9	and sci-fi are already creating worlds that are foreign to the reader, even if it's in
1:00.3	your own language.
1:02.2	People tend to focus on what gets lost in translation, but I've been wondering, is
1:06.9	anything gained?
1:09.0	Because I think of a story as a living organism.
1:12.3	If it's going to survive in a new language or culture, it needs to adapt.
1:16.4	And at that point, it may not be the same story anymore, but it will keep growing and thriving.
1:24.8	In today's episode, we are going to go around the world to look at four different ways
	...

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