miércoles, 30 de octubre de 2024

A SIMILE ABOUT TRANSLATIONS


 

Let me muse about a situation where an English friend of mine is a well-known dresser, dandy, and fop who sets the standard of men's fashion in the English-speaking world. His suits are impeccable and true works of art admired by all. As his reputation as a dapper has crossed borders and even reached Spain, I asked him to let me borrow one of his suits to cut a good figure at a soirée in Madrid where King Felipe VI would be attending. My friend lent me one of his best suits and I flew back to Spain and went straight to a good tailor to make some adjustments. At the fitting, I asked for the pants to be slim-cut, and lappels narrowed to conform to modern taste. The tailor agreed to shorten the jacket and sleeves as well. At the soirée, people commented that although the suit was okey, it was nothing to write home about and some dared remark that they were baffled by my friend's reputation as a dandy. Of course, I never mentioned my alterations to it. Translations may compare to the suit. They alter the original so readers cannot grasp why it is so popular and famous. 

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