Mouse or Rat? by Umberto Eco
Based on a series of lectures on translation these essays are thought-provoking and compelling discussions on the difficulties of translating faithfully. Using examples from classic literary texts including his own bestselling novels Eco examines the rights and wrongs, the misunderstandings and the 'negotiations' needed in order to translate. He examines various problems in translation with great wit and humour. Pointing out the pitfalls of literal translation, he asks a machine to translate the beginning of the Bible into Spanish then back into English, then into German and then again back into English. The result is very funny but as Eco points out, it is still vaguely recognisable as a version of the Bible and obviously not the first adventure of Harry Potter. He discusses every form of interpretation and expression from poetry to film and music always demonstrating with vivid examples the disastrous but often hilarious outcome of mistranslation.The main point of all these essays is that translation is always a matter of negotiation; whether it be a loss or a gain on either side a translator's job is to decide what elements are vital and which may be neglected.
"Eco's book is an entertaining, fluid tour around the problems that arise from the awkward fit between the world's languages" -- ALAIN DE BOTTON THE TIMES
Umberto Eco is Professor of Semiotics at the University of Bologna and holds Honorary Doctorates at more than 20 Universities, from Jerusalem to Buenos Aires.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780297830016 |
| ISBN 10 | 0297830015 |
| Title | Mouse or Rat? |
| Author | Umberto Eco |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Publisher | Orion Publishing Co |
| Year published | 2003-11-13 |
| Number of pages | 224 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |