Values of Literature in translation

Some might argue that there is no value in studying literary works in translation due to the many limitations in dealing with language barriers that hinder the audience from receiving the values of the text expressed by the author. However, I believe that the positives and strengths of studying literary works in translation clearly outweigh its limitations and that the limitations can be overcome with a deeper knowledge of the context in which it was written.

The article that I received in class was initially published on January 18, 2010 written by Claudia Pierpont which openly highlights what Arabic works of translation have to offer to its variety of audiences. Pierpont brings up a point to start of the significance of texts in translation is that novels give a deep insight to people of the culture; how they think, suffer, fall in love, make revolutions, etc. The most important value of translated works of literature is the fact that they give a better insight to the people and their culture than most media sources would do such as newspapers and magazines.

The secondary title of the article quoted,

‘Arabic novels offer a marvelous array of answers to questions we did not know we wanted to ask’

The significance of this quote is that it brings up the idea that literary works in translation certainly does offer an array of knowledge that an audience would have never tapped into. This knowledge could be in the form of attitudes or values expressed in the text; the author of the article referred to the literary work in translation Girls of Riyadh when discussing this point. The book was about the tactics a good Saudi Girl should use to avoid being married off by Rajaa Alsanea; she was a young writer in her twenties. On a second note, Girls of Riyadh was banned in Saudi Arabia for suggesting that upper-class Saudi Girls wish to escape their luxurious designer cages. The decision to do so might not be understandable if the context in which the novel is written is not taken into consideration. According to some, Saudi Arabia tends to be known for being more concealed about higher-class members of their society, especially women. So the Girls of Riyadh might suggest ideas that could have sparked some thoughts about what the upper-class community is up to.

The challenges literary works in translation face is not certainly the most extreme in the case of Girls of Riyadh. Naguib Mahfouz was stabbed in his neck at the age of eighty two, resulting him not being able to write for lost sense of familiarity in writing with his right hand temporarily. The incident was six years after Mahfouz had won the Nobel Prize by an outraged Islamic cleric.

In conclusion, the works of literature in translation are a valuable asset in studying with great consideration of the changing historical, social and cultural context in which particular texts are written and received, since they provide a better insight to the people and their culture than most media sources would do such as newspapers and magazines.