I've been thinking a bit about translation lately. At ANLC we get many request to translate slogans, idioms, mottos, etc. from English to a particular Native language -- or even into "Alaskan." Here are some recent examples:
"In Partnerships ~ Strengthening Our Culture and Traditions and Building Our Future"
“Friendships Today, Partnerships Tomorrow”
"Be Counted"
"Chief Medicine Bear"
While these requests are for the most part well-intentioned, many speakers have expressed their reluctance to fulfill such requests. One problem is that people don't realize just how difficult such requests can be. For example, the English phrase "be counted" is highly idiomatic. Generally the verb "to be" describes being in a certain state, as in "I am happy" or "I am tall", but in this idiomatic phrase it exhorts the hearer to take action in order to bring that state about. Thus, "be happy" (take action so that you come into a state of happiness) and "be tall" (stand up straight). So the idiom "be counted" means: take action so that you come to be counted. Some pragmatic inference is required here, because of course the hearer is a mere passive participant in the speaker's counting process. When put in the context of the US census this inference has precisely the desired effect in English, as it forces the hearer to infer an active role for themselves in the census process -- even though the English verb "to count" usually takes a passive object. So in translating the idiom "be counted," a native speaker must translate not the verb "to count" but rather the pragmatic inference which the idiomatic phrase evokes in English. This is not small task.
But I wonder if it is not only the difficulty of the task which bothers people. Perhaps an even greater problem is that taken together, all of these requests might be viewed as trivializing or patronizing rather supporting Native language. There seems to be a lack of reciprocity. I have yet to receive a request from someone seeking a translation of a Native language idiom into English. No, it is always the other way around. Someone comes up with a usually highly idiomatic English phrase, and then wants to translate it into Native language. It's always English first, Native language second. English is always given priority. No one seems interesting in the rich idiomatic language of Alaska's indigenous languages. Instead, they are interested in forcing an awkward translation of an English idiom. And typically the goal is to advance some non-linguistic cause by appeal to the cachet of Native language. That's what seems patronizing. Don't get me wrong. I know these people are well-intentioned. And I would very much like to see more Native language out there. But I am beginning to understand the reluctance on the part of some speakers to participate in translation work.
You have NO IDEA how often we get these kinds of requests at the Alutiiq Museum.
ReplyDeleteThe Tlingit for “be counted” ended up being «i een naxhdutóow», which backtranslates to something like “let them count you”. A pretty good translation.
ReplyDeleteWhen getting this done, I pondered the exact same issue you raise. Considering the small number of living Tlingit speakers, and the even smaller number who are literate, who is the message intended for? Most likely it’s for people to think “oh how nice, they put Native words on their poster”. Patronizing, trivializing, the whole bit. But I guess some visibility is better than nothing?
The worst part is when you painstakingly work out a translation, have it checked by native speakers, and then see the final result with screwed up diacritics, introduced misspellings, and so forth. The language isn’t used communicatively, it’s used decoratively much as English is used in Japan, or French among snobby Americans. That the text could actually mean something is sometimes astonishing to people.
This blog put into words perfectly the way my mom and I feel when we are asked to translate things into Unangam tunuu. And Crippen made some good points too. We appreciate that people want to make posters and t-shirts for their wellness campaigns and the like but it is pretty awkward to put those idioms into our language. Also, as in Tlingit, there are not many speakers of our language and even fewer who are literate in the actual orthography. I say "actual orthography" because some people use made-up "phonetic" spellings, which is ironic to me because our orthography is very phonetic in and of itself, if only people would take the time to learn it (and really, it doesn't take much time to learn it if you already know how to read any language which utilizes the roman alphabet!).
ReplyDeleteAs far as idioms going the other direction, from our language to English, I'm sure it would be very interesting but I'm not used to thinking in terms of idioms when it comes to our language so it would probably take some serious thought to figure out what some of them are.
I'd wager a dinner that none of those requesting translations knows what an idiom is, and I'd wager a lunch that none of them has even passing knowledge of other languages, so they think that a translation is like asking for four quarters in exchange for a dollar bill. It's not that they aren't interested in the rich idiomatic usage of a Native language -- they aren't even aware of the richness in their own language. It falls to any translator, whether of Han or French, to explain the constraints of a given language, and to offer alternatives. I think -- perhaps, I hope -- that with a little education, most people would be open to learning about the innumerable ways people and cultures express themselves, and how both parties -- the original speaker and the intended audience -- can be equitably served.
ReplyDeleteIt would be cool, however--if restaurants, grocery stores and other establishments would use bilingual signage for practical things. I wonder if there is some place where people can lookup the words for bathroom, exit, men, woman, conference room, checkout, "wait in line" and stuff like that. If Yup'ik signage was used commonly in Bethel, and Tanana bilingual signage in Fairbanks, Dena'ina in Anchorage--I think that would be very cool!
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