Jennifer Croft recently engaged with fellow translators of Olga Tokarczuk, the Polish writer awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2018, one year after she accepted the prestigious accolade. The conversation took place during the summer series titled Translating the Future, organized by Esther Allen and Allison Markin Powell. During the event, the translators exchanged insights about their experiences with Tokarczuk's work, reflecting their shared commitment to making her literature accessible in different languages.
Read More
In discussing their reactions to Tokarczuk winning the Nobel Prize, the translators shared their personal experiences. Olga Bagińska-Shinzato from Brazil felt a strong intuition about Tokarczuk's win prior to the announcement, expressing deep joy upon hearing the news while preparing for class. Czech translator Pavel Peč recounted a humorous incident where his connection failed just before the laureates were announced, and he learned the news from his father, who celebrated the occasion with him.
Lisa Palmes, translating from German, recalled speculating about Tokarczuk’s potential award during a book launch. When the announcement came, she was surprised and ecstatic, quickly sharing the excitement with her colleagues. Lothar Quinkenstein, also translating for German audiences, found out while traveling to a reading by Tokarczuk, being overwhelmed with happiness upon receiving a text from his wife.
Barbara Delfino from Italy experienced the moment during lunch with her mother and was overwhelmed with emotion as she recognized Tokarczuk's name during the announcement. Sungeun Choi in Korea received the news at night, delighting in the stream of congratulatory calls that followed. Other translators, including those from Japan and Serbia, expressed similar feelings of excitement and disbelief as they shared their experiences.
In their discussions, the translators delved into the unique nature of Tokarczuk's writing, which they describe as both local and universal. They noted her ability to weave local Polish themes and settings into narratives that resonate on a global scale. This narrative technique is considered one of the philosophical and metaphysical keys to her work, allowing readers to relate deeply to characters and settings regardless of their background.
The translators emphasized the tenderness and emotional depth present in Tokarczuk's prose, which they strive to maintain while translating. Differences between languages also pose challenges, as seen in the varying lengths and structures of sentences in translations. Each translator aims to preserve the essence of Tokarczuk's style while adapting it to their language’s nuances.
Overall, the conversation highlighted a shared mission among Tokarczuk’s translators, reflecting their dedication to bringing her profound literary voice to audiences worldwide.