Job Discussion Forums

[Sashadroogie]

Not really directly related to teaching jobs, I know, but I find this article interesting. And anyone teaching Russian students and involved in any sort of language or translation may also find it so. It can be helpful in class discussions to know the literary references learners make.

Just my humble opinion, though one shared by many, but I think that Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky must be the best translators of Russian literature to English ever. Think War and Peace is daunting? It is a joy to read - the way they have done it.

I guess at a stretch, it could have a classroom application, if we compared learner attempts to translate Tolstoy with these two professionals... Over-stretch perhaps.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704431804574539613167679976.html

[Foma87]

I managed to get through their translation of Anna Karenina, very readable indeed. A good translation makes all the difference. I know there's been a lot of debate in book chat land on the merits of their War and Peace translation, too. I myself don't have the courage to even buy a copy, let alone read it!

[Sashadroogie]

I think most of the debate centres around the large amount of French in their translation. Like in the Russian original.

[Sashadroogie]

http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/december-war-peace/


Another interesting article.

[jahalf]

Having had to slog through Constance Garret translations of so many Russian authors for my BA, it's good news that this team has not only taken up the challenge, but done extremely well at it.