Found in Translation: The Power of Language, Literature, and Translation

Some argue that the artistic expression of language is what makes us uniquely human. By extension, reading each other’s words, especially those from distant lands, is part of what binds us together across distances. But this sentiment alone does not convey the power and importance of literary translation. Reading literature in translation requires us to open our minds, as much great art does, but even more so.

An article published in the journal Science identified an increase in empathy, social perception, and emotional intelligence among test subjects after they read literary fiction. To explain this effect, the researchers hypothesized that “literary fiction often leaves more to the imagination, encouraging readers to make inferences about characters and be sensitive to emotional nuance and complexity.” What, then, of the leaps of imagination required when confronting much less familiar characters and situations? Don’t any attempts to perceive their cultural and linguistic context further extend the empathic stretch? Whether the empathy effect of foreign fiction is greater or not, translators multiply the opportunities for reading literary fiction by contributing to the array of works available to read in English.

The Center for the Art of Translation is committed to bringing these voices into English, often for the first time, but our interest goes beyond publishing. The Center for the Art of Translation’s board president and founder, Olivia Sears, and Poetry Inside Out program director, Mark Hauber, will discuss the various ways in which translation can touch society: as an art form, as an educational tool, and through community events. As communities in the U.S. become more diverse, it is no longer just at the borders where we need bridges, literal and metaphorical: these gaps need to be spanned within our own neighborhoods. Perhaps ironically, we have found that translation allows us to know each other better, and therefore feel more connected to one another here at home.

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The Global Speaker Series(opens in a new tab) is an initiative to expand the academic and intellectual offerings of the College of San Mateo by bringing speakers with expertise in area studies and global issues to campus. The goal of the Global Speakers Series project is to create a formalized process for bringing global discussions to the college and use these rich resources to expand conversations and ultimately bring the world into the classroom.