Many think that translating is an easy task, that there is an exact English word for every word in the source language. I demonstrate some of the difficulties that come with translating literature from German to English. I chose a short story written by the Austrian author, Alois Hotschnig, in order to show the difficulties that a literary translator would usually confront. A good translation brings the same feelings in target language readers as it does in source language readers, one could call it a “transcreation,” since such a translation is a very creative act. The translator must study the author, setting, and the intertextuality of the story. Hotschnig’s short story, for example, shows that translations involve much more interpretation and feeling for the text than most believe.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Thompson, Elizabeth Joy

Contributors

• Dollenmayer, David

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-052716-114504

Award

• Provost's MQP Award

Advisor

• Brisson, Ulrike

Year

• 2016

Date created

• 2016-05-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Humanities & Arts

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• All rights reserved

Last modified

• 2023-01-20