[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.05,0:00:10.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hello everyone.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.72,0:00:12.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My name is Ilya Odegov.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.38,0:00:15.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am a writer, a literary translator,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.33,0:00:17.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a reader, of course, a keen reader.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.57,0:00:19.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started reading at age three,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.05,0:00:21.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and over the years, obviously,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.07,0:00:22.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've found my favourite authors.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.03,0:00:26.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what is interesting,\Nonly about 20% of these authors
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.66,0:00:30.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wrote or write in my native language,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.24,0:00:31.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Russian.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.96,0:00:34.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other 80% write\Nin all languages of the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.07,0:00:37.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien and Selinger,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.34,0:00:41.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Kobo Abe and Murakami,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.14,0:00:43.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Kafka and Pavish -
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.58,0:00:45.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all these people wrote\Nin their own language,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.80,0:00:47.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we read them in translation.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.02,0:00:52.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We read them, often without realizing\Nthe titanic work that is behind it all.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.64,0:00:55.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Often we don't even bother\Nlooking inside the cover,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.25,0:00:58.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the title page,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.01,0:01:00.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see the translator's name.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.52,0:01:04.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yet, the world we are holding in our hands\Ndepends on this person.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.75,0:01:08.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our perception of a book\Ndepends on the translator.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.28,0:01:12.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, today I would like\Nto talk about literary translation.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.85,0:01:15.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I remember how, when a child,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.06,0:01:16.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I realized for the first time
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.45,0:01:19.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that my favourite books\Nhad been written in other languages,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.41,0:01:22.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I wanted badly to peak
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.69,0:01:25.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the other side,\Nat the other side of the moon,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.67,0:01:27.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see what was there.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.43,0:01:30.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started my research and soon found out
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.37,0:01:33.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Peppi Longstocking\Nwas "Pippi" and not "Peppi",
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.90,0:01:36.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Russian translators\Nhad named her "Peppi"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.84,0:01:38.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to make it sound better in Russian.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.91,0:01:41.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or that Junior from "Junior and Karlson"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.61,0:01:44.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the original Swedish was "Lillebror",
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.91,0:01:47.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,meaning "little brother",
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.45,0:01:50.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so, translating the book title literally,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.57,0:01:53.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we'll have "Little Brother and Karlson".
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.79,0:01:56.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There have been many similar discoveries,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.76,0:02:00.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and every discovery has made\Nmy world a little more complex,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.65,0:02:02.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a little more complete.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.33,0:02:05.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's like you've been saying\N"galstuk" [neck tie] your whole life,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.78,0:02:08.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then at some point you discover
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.26,0:02:10.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the German "Hals"\Ntranslates to "neck",
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.54,0:02:12.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "Tuch" to "cloth",
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.16,0:02:14.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so, "galstuk" is not just\Na set of letters,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.44,0:02:15.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but "neck cloth".
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.71,0:02:18.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A word starts to make sense,\Nand it's great.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.69,0:02:21.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The thing I liked the most when a kid
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.22,0:02:26.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was when the original was printed\Nalongside the Russian translation.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.20,0:02:30.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I remember in Lewis Carroll's\N"Alice Through the Looking Glass",
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.26,0:02:31.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a poem called "Jabberwocky".
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.59,0:02:32.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The translated version was:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.98,0:02:35.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Varkalalos. Hleevkeeye shorkee\NPyryalees po naveh,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.47,0:02:37.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ee hryukotalee zyelyukee,\NKak mjumzeekee v moveh.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.92,0:02:39.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And next to it was the original:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.68,0:02:44.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Twas bryllyg, and y_e slythy toves\NDid gyre and gymble in y_e wabe:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.07,0:02:49.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All mimsy were y_e borogoves;\NAnd y_e mome raths outgrabe."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.08,0:02:50.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, it's a nonsense verse.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.86,0:02:53.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although, I question\Nthis translation a lot,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.31,0:02:57.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a child, I found it so cool
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.59,0:03:01.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be able to see the original\Nand the translated versions together.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.34,0:03:03.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, the first piece of advice\NI want to give you is:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.95,0:03:05.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you have the opportunity,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.60,0:03:07.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,always compare the translation\Nwith the original.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.91,0:03:10.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even if you don't know the language,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.07,0:03:11.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't understand the meaning,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.70,0:03:16.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at least you will be able to read,\Nto see, what the letters look like,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.30,0:03:20.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feel the rhythm, feel the phonetics,\Nthe melody of the language,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.27,0:03:23.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that was put into the piece\Nby the author himself.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.66,0:03:26.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some time passed, I grew up,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.49,0:03:29.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I dedicated myself to literature,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.13,0:03:32.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,started to write books,\Nattend festivals, get awards,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.85,0:03:35.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I continued to study\Nforeign languages.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.79,0:03:37.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At some point,\Na thought came into my head:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.98,0:03:40.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Why not combine these two activities
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.65,0:03:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and start doing literary\Ntranslations yourself?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.92,0:03:48.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started with poems because I thought\Nthat for one thing, a poem,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.32,0:03:51.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it can be a short and easy to work with,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.98,0:03:55.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for another thing,\Na poem is not just text in a column,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.99,0:04:00.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it can say a lot succinctly
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.39,0:04:03.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with rhyme, rhythm, and metre,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.79,0:04:07.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and metaphors and cultural allusions,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.68,0:04:10.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wordplay, and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.99,0:04:15.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, despite its size, it has\Na lot of entertaining work to offer.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.27,0:04:22.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I used to translate Robert Frost,\NBlake, Kipling, from English;
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.77,0:04:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lorca from Spanish;
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.48,0:04:27.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Abai, Magzhan Zhumabayev,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.44,0:04:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ybyrai Altynsarin,\NKuandyk Shangitbayev, from Kazakh;
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.95,0:04:33.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Gunnar Ekelöf from Swedish, and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.45,0:04:37.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And each time I came to\Nthis or that author,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.20,0:04:41.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,familiarizing myself with available\Ntranslations of his poems,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.35,0:04:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I soon realized that very often\Nthose translations were pretty free,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.25,0:04:49.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,already to be found, rather inaccurate,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.04,0:04:51.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while I always wanted to avoid this,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.82,0:04:53.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it always seemed to me
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.41,0:04:58.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I was a mere translator,\Njust an intermediary conduit,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.28,0:05:01.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,taking from one language\Nand delivering into another.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.04,0:05:06.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What right did I have\Nto mess with an author's thoughts,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.39,0:05:09.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even if I don't like\Na certain technique used by the author,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.44,0:05:11.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even if it’s not accurate in my opinion,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.38,0:05:12.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not entirely appropriate?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.67,0:05:15.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But do I have a right to make it better,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.36,0:05:17.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,better in my opinion?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.41,0:05:18.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think that I don't.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.60,0:05:21.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I tried to make translations\Nas accurate as possible,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.17,0:05:22.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as concise as possible,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.28,0:05:24.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,conveying exactly what the author\Nhad put into them.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.76,0:05:26.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this turned out to be a lot.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.64,0:05:30.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we are talking\Nabout meaning, for instance,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.72,0:05:34.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I will give you some examples\Nof inaccuracies in translation.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.38,0:05:36.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a poem by Robert Frost,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.60,0:05:38.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of his most famous ones,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.58,0:05:40.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening".
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.08,0:05:43.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a poem about a man\Nwho is riding a horse;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.57,0:05:46.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he's been on his way for a long time,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.88,0:05:49.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and his home is still far away.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.34,0:05:52.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a lake on one side of him\Nand a forest on the other.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.69,0:05:55.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's late evening, almost night,\Nthe sky above him is enormous.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.82,0:05:58.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Suddenly, he stops his horse,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.13,0:06:00.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he feels terribly tiny
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.60,0:06:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this huge, dark world\Ncowered with snow.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.87,0:06:09.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he calls his horse, his companion,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.25,0:06:12.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"my little horse".
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.81,0:06:16.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This translates directly into Russian -\Nso really just meaning "his horse".
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.62,0:06:19.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In half of the translations I've read,\Nand I've seen about 10,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.77,0:06:22.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in half of the translations,\Nthe translator writes "my steed".
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.05,0:06:26.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You'll agree they are\Nexactly the same animal,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.73,0:06:29.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the way we think about it\Ndiffers greatly.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.11,0:06:32.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A steed is like that of Peter the Great\Nin the poem "Poltava":
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.36,0:06:33.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Someone brings his horse.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.84,0:06:35.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His steed is ardent and resolved,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.46,0:06:36.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Atremble as his nostrils sense
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.89,0:06:38.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The battle flames. Through martial dust
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.75,0:06:40.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He flies, his eyes attentive, sly,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.37,0:06:42.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And proudly bears his mighty burden."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.13,0:06:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a steed.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.26,0:06:46.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But here we have "my little horse"\Nand a huge world around me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.82,0:06:48.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The difference is colossal.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.89,0:06:52.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Abai, for example, wrote a wonderful poem
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.07,0:06:54.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I translated.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.95,0:06:56.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Its first lines are:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.86,0:06:58.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Reads first two lines in Kazakh)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.60,0:07:05.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is what these lines sound like\Nin a classic Soviet translation
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.71,0:07:08.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that can be found in many textbooks:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.84,0:07:11.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Reads first two lines\Nof Soviet Russian translation)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.17,0:07:16.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not only is the original rhythm lost,\Nbut also the meaning.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.37,0:07:20.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The original poem is not about shadows,\Nbut about only one shadow.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.13,0:07:24.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there's nothing there that is merging;
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.74,0:07:28.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's about a shadow getting longer
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.02,0:07:30.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and hiding everything further away.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.34,0:07:34.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you look\Nat the context of the poem,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.31,0:07:37.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you will realize that it's about\Ngetting older, age;
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.74,0:07:40.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it isn't the shadow\Nof a tree or a mountain;
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.16,0:07:43.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's the shadow of the author himself,\Nbasically, of an old man.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.34,0:07:46.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The shadow lengthening\Nis him becoming older,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.07,0:07:49.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,old memories become hidden,\Npeople forgotten,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.76,0:07:52.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people he's met, in childhood perhaps.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.21,0:07:54.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He no longer remembers all this,\Nthe shadow is too long.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.10,0:07:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, basically, by changing\Nthe first two lines of the poem,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.25,0:08:02.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we change its main metaphor\Nand the original meaning completely.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.37,0:08:05.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We, in fact, read\Nthese poems, these translations,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.13,0:08:06.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're brought up on them,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.32,0:08:09.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we think that they are exactly\Nwhat an author wanted to convey.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.67,0:08:12.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's why my next piece\Nof advice to you is:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.62,0:08:16.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Don't blame the author\Nwhen you read a translation.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.86,0:08:19.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's highly likely\Nthat the translation is bad.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.78,0:08:21.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Look for others, compare them,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.94,0:08:25.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when you find\Na good translator, stay with him,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.18,0:08:27.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because good translators\Nare few and far between.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.62,0:08:29.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When they're to be found,\Nwatch out for them,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.87,0:08:30.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,remember their names,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.100,0:08:33.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,check if they are working on a new one,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.43,0:08:36.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,let them be guiding stars for you.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.05,0:08:40.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was about meaning,\Nbut there's also form,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.80,0:08:42.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's rhythm, metre.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.62,0:08:45.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For Kazakh poetry, for example,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.74,0:08:48.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a traditionally adopted verse structure
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.58,0:08:51.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is where the first, second,\Nand fourth lines
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.41,0:08:55.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have the same length and rhyme,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.45,0:08:59.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while the third line is different\Nin length and doesn't rhyme.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.79,0:09:05.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we look at the poems\Nof Magzhan Zhumabayev,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.09,0:09:09.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we find he used to experiment\Nwith this traditional form,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.12,0:09:11.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ultimately creating\Nhis own totally new forms,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.86,0:09:13.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,non-standard, innovative ones;
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.69,0:09:15.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to introduce new patterns,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.65,0:09:18.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,destroying the old, conventional one.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.89,0:09:22.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here is one of his poems,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.41,0:09:26.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Eski qala" [Old Town]:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.83,0:09:30.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Reads poem in Kazakh)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.65,0:10:01.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here's how I translate it,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.35,0:10:03.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to conserve the same rhythm,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.38,0:10:04.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is not easy to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.74,0:10:07.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Can you hear it's non-traditional?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.40,0:10:09.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Reads his Russian translation)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.99,0:10:40.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you hear how unusual the rhythm is?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.01,0:10:42.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.91,0:10:45.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's how you can change\Na rhythm like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.09,0:10:46.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What do some other translators do?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.88,0:10:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How can you change something
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.28,0:10:52.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that, basically, underlines\Na poem or a work of literature?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.21,0:10:55.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's an important aspect\Nthat requires attention,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.30,0:10:56.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but not the only one.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.70,0:10:58.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Meaning and form are important,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.36,0:11:01.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but there are some other aspects of poetry
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.88,0:11:04.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that call for careful attention
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.25,0:11:09.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and often a firm decision\Nby the translator.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.83,0:11:12.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll give you an example\Nfrom modern poetry,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.12,0:11:15.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an example with cultural allusions.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.68,0:11:18.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Aigerim Tazhi, a contemporary poet,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.58,0:11:21.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is one of the most famous\Noutside our country,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.16,0:11:24.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her poems having been translated\Ninto a number of languages,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.92,0:11:27.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into English by the former president
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.08,0:11:30.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the American Literary\NTranslators Association, Jim Kates.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.45,0:11:34.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These poems and translations\Nhave already won a number of awards.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.04,0:11:39.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I remember once,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.42,0:11:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when, in one of Aigerim's poems,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.74,0:11:45.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was the phrase "koshcheyeva zhizn",
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.18,0:11:50.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Jim was not sure\Nhow to translate it into English.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.92,0:11:53.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You could say "Koschei’s life",
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.32,0:11:57.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but English speakers\Nwouldn't understand it.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.38,0:12:03.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's possible to include a reference,\Na footnote, and explain
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.66,0:12:05.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Koschei is a mythological creature.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.81,0:12:08.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's in the middle of the poem:
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.10,0:12:10.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you need to stop, look, read the note,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.02,0:12:12.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,return to the text ... and you're lost.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.02,0:12:15.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finally, after much reflection,\Nthe decision was made
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.53,0:12:19.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to find an equivalent in the mythology\Nof the English-speaking world
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.37,0:12:24.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,closest to Koschei.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.31,0:12:28.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Ghoul’s life" was chosen.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.39,0:12:31.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A ghoul is some kind of creature\Nthat looks like Koschei.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.18,0:12:34.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But every time things like this arise,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.52,0:12:37.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the translator has to make\Nan important decision.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.68,0:12:40.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You cannot give a precise translation;
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.05,0:12:41.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have to find a way around.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.80,0:12:43.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Phonetics is also important.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.37,0:12:48.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In many poems,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.71,0:12:52.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,poets use some kinds of\Nspecial phonetic technique.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.86,0:12:58.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, I have been translating\Nthe Swedish poet Gunnar Ekelöf.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.92,0:13:05.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Very often he uses an emphasis\Non sounds in his poems:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.98,0:13:07.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"drömde", "öden", "ödet", "dödar".
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.94,0:13:09.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You hear a recurrent "d".
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.64,0:13:11.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was a phrase in one of his poems:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.60,0:13:14.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Leva farligt! Dess mer\Nförtjänte du återfödsel."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.10,0:13:17.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you hear how it sounds?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.86,0:13:19.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you look more closely,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.50,0:13:22.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you'll notice that the sound "f"\Nrepeats three times:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.65,0:13:26.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Leva farligt! Dess mer\Nförtjänte du återfödsel."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.31,0:13:28.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Translating it into Russian,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.86,0:13:35.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was trying to conserve the metre,\Nthe rhyme, and the meaning,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:35.61,0:13:37.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to play with phonetics,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.44,0:13:39.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to play with sounds as the author did,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.67,0:13:42.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it's my duty as a translator,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.02,0:13:44.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my obligation, to follow\Nwhat an author does.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.20,0:13:45.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My translation was:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.33,0:13:48.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Zheevee opasno! Pyeryerozhdyene\Neteem zasluzheesh."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.57,0:13:51.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead of "f", I used "zh" three times,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.75,0:13:55.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the same way Gunnar Ekelöf\Nhad played with phonetics.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:55.68,0:13:59.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are hundreds and thousands\Nof similar examples,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.14,0:14:04.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, for sure, as good\Nas a translation is,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.87,0:14:09.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's impossible to make it\Nexactly the same as the original.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.73,0:14:11.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we can try very hard.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:11.10,0:14:14.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can try to make a translation\Nas transparent as possible,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.84,0:14:19.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that when we read a poem
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.58,0:14:21.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,translated from Kazakh into Russian,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.58,0:14:26.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can hear Kazakh phonetics\Nthrough the Russian,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.31,0:14:29.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that we hear the sound\Nof the Kazakh language,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.41,0:14:31.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its melody,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:31.37,0:14:34.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as well as, the meaning\Nand form of it, of course,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.66,0:14:36.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we can hear one language\Nthrough the other.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.81,0:14:39.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think that this is that\Nto which we must always strive.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.72,0:14:41.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, it's difficult,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.26,0:14:43.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's why such translations are rare.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.74,0:14:45.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I want to believe
Dialogue: 0,0:14:46.07,0:14:51.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the importance and the value\Nof literary translation in Russia
Dialogue: 0,0:14:51.39,0:14:52.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will be recognized,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.89,0:14:57.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, who knows, maybe one of you here
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.32,0:14:59.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will be impressed and inspired by my talk,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:59.80,0:15:02.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and dedicates him- or herself\Nto this profession.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.46,0:15:03.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.63,0:15:05.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)