Undici: lost in translation
http://www.letteratu.it/2011/04/09/undici-come-un-evento-puo-cambiare-il-destino/
Continuing the theme of foreign versions of ‘Eleven’ (my little novel about a fellow staying up late and having a few problems) -the Italian edition is now about to hit, er, Italy. Today the above link popped up in the homepage of my WordPress, which somehow – I don’t know how – seems to know when someone else writes a blog about me. Anyway, it’s a review I think, but in Italian. I remember enough Italian from GCSE to make out that the blog title means ‘how one event can change destiny’, but not really enough to decode most of it. Luckily, Google has an automatic translation function. Unluckily, it isn’t very good. Or, the blog has been written by someone strange. But I prefer to blame Google.
I reproduce the translation below. It’s not entirely clear whether it is positive or not. I’m somewhat discouraged by the phrase ‘a story perhaps but certainly not the original re-interpreted in the best way’. On the other hand it looks like I might have scored 96 out of 100. And I’m taken with the notion that my character ‘invests in the fragile shell’ of an event.
If nothing else, the blog provides evidence that the cover of the Italian version is satisfyingly weird and non-English-looking. If you’ve read the book you can try and work out which bits the drawings are meant to represent.
My brother speaks Italian so I’ll get him onto it, but in the meantime, feel free to translate any bits you feel capable of, or if you don’t do Italian why not try and translate the Google English version into actual English?
Fun. Can’t wait till someone sends me a review of the Korean edition.
There is a theory, strange, little known (at least in Italy) which I read some time ago in the network and that has fascinated me for some issues and confused (probably because of my limited math skills) to others. This theory is known as ” Six Degrees of Separation “and was proposed for the first time in 1929 by a Hungarian writer in a story that has left few traces behind. According to this hypothesis any person can be connected to any other person through a chain of knowledge with no more than five intermediaries.
Absurd to say. Maybe scary. But if it were really so, how many and what would be the chance for everyone to influence the life of every other single human being who belongs to the earth? Mark Watson , British comedian, born in 1980, is presented to the public with his third novel (certainly “The most successful of the three) who comes to this theory, not only through the use of invasive and never guessed his verve and ironic edge. The protagonist of this short story set in London is Xavier Ireland, a DJ who works in radio and leads one of those programs (so dear to American brothers) and that sleepwalkers do not call to confess, and confess hopes, fears and regrets, in fact the their stories. Stories that Xavier has felt and suffered, stories of loneliness and melancholy, despair and guilt, a bit ‘as its dramatic, that changed him, saddened and discouraged. Everything that happens has to happen and we can not help it. All that Xavier wants from his new life is to feel guilty, and do nothing, for no cause at all. Do not change the way the course of events. And just following his belief that one day, instead of helping a kid in trouble, go beyond. Never imagining that his action will trigger a series of unpredictable consequences, by investing in the middle of its fragile shell. And overwhelming eleven other lives besides his own. All unaware that you are connected to each other.
A story perhaps but certainly not the original re-interpreted in the best way.
“A funny and wistful comedy about the threads that bind our lives to those of others, and how things happen with or without reason. How is not at all true that we are the architects of our destiny. Because sometimes the worst happens. But sometimes even get someone to save us. ”
After all, who has never asked why certain meetings or events? Who has not the slightest doubt (or hope) to be part of a big project? I have them both.
Posted by dyabollo on April 12, 2011
Dear Mark,
I also wrote a review of your Book. It´s positive
now i wanted to ask you, if you would like to give me an interview ?
Posted by Carla on April 11, 2011
Whoops, I was forgetting the “invests in the fragile shell” sentence. This one should be: “[Without imagining that his decision will trigger a series of unpredictable consequences] which will crash right into his fragile armour”.
Again, it’s been a pleasure,
Carla
Posted by Carla on April 11, 2011
I’m Carla Palmieri, and I’ve translated Eleven into Italian. I see someone has already supplied the correct translation of the sentence that was puzzling you. The review is certainly (and deservedly) positive, and I hope many more will follow. Also, I’m glad you don’t totally dislike the cover.
Posted by max on April 11, 2011
I don’t really know Italian, but as a spanish speaker I can get most of it when I read it. Specially the word order, which is what google translate usually screws up.
The correct translation is (I think):
A story, perhaps not original, but certainly re-interpreted in the best way.
Certainly positive, plus the guy says it’s a book that you can devour in one sitting
Posted by Madeleine on April 11, 2011
I love:
“who comes to this theory, not only through the use of invasive and never guessed his verve and ironic edge.”
One day I hope to have verve and ironic edge. One day.
I also thought the “use of invasive” was visionary.
Posted by Catherine aka Cathy on April 11, 2011
Google translation is terrible for translating paragraphs. But it makes a decent dictionary for particular words. I use it for my Spanish homework all the time.
When is Eleven coming out in the U.S. or will it? If necessary, I will order a copy from Amazon UK before I go awondering in July.
Posted by Lydia on April 10, 2011
That’s awesome. The age thing is weird though, why would being born in 1980 affect your book? It seems unnecessary, lol.
Google translation is rubbish. So are translation sites in general. I tried to get away with doing my Spanish homework on one once when I was doing my GCSE. As you can imagine, that didn’t work out too well.
Posted by LisaD on April 10, 2011
There’s a kind of poetry to this, maybe all reviews should be read through a translation sieve. It has now become my goal to write a character that causes someone to never guess “his verve and ironic edge.” Also I agree with Aislinn that the translator butchered a line intended as a compliment. If you play around with the syntax until the sentence is more correctly phrased it is a very positive statement about your fresh and original take on a theory first published in 1929.
Posted by Simone on April 10, 2011
I thought the translated review was very funny at times. I particularly liked “Mark Watson , British comedian, born in 1980″.
Posted by Lizzy on April 10, 2011
I really like ‘Who has not the slightest doubt (or hope) to be part of a big project? I have them both.’
I might get it tattooed or framed. (I probably won’t. But I do like it.)
I’ve given Eleven to my sister to read this morning, as it happens. She read ‘A Light-Hearted…’ last time, and liked it! Bullet Points next. I’m sorry she’s not contributing to your pocket money by buying them herself. Tsk. She can buy me your next one. I hope it’s getting there! :]
Posted by amycool on April 10, 2011
I like the idea that the translation is exactly how it was written.
Posted by Aislinn on April 10, 2011
No no no, I think that phrase is good! The ‘a story perhaps but certainly not the original re-interpreted in the best way’ is, I think, the reviewer saying that it’s a story, but not a re-interpretation of the ‘original’ (the original being the whole six degrees of separation thing). And that he/she means that in the best way possible.
My favourite bit is the inverted comma in ‘Certainly “The most successful of the three’. It’s slightly mocking, in a sort-of lighthearted way.
Posted by MusicalLottie on April 10, 2011
it looks quite positive overall, actually. I don’t get the line about ‘a story perhaps … ‘ but on balance it looks like Google translate just couldn’t cope with an idiom or something. Most of the rest of it, I agree with Misha – it’s quite charming in its own way
Further investigation into possible translations of that particular line comes up with: ‘maybe(perhaps) not the original storyline but surely(certainly) re-interpreted in the best way’.
Posted by Rachael on April 10, 2011
I did Italian GCSE too, it is depressing to realise how little I still remember. The cover looks alot more sinister than the English version and I didn’t imagine any of the women in it to look like that. I think its positive, the vedict is something about reading it all in one go.
Posted by Misha on April 10, 2011
I almost don’t want to read the correct translation, it’s sort of charming like this.
The problem with google translate is that it’s rubbish at colloquialisms. I imagine it must struggle with homonyms too, but you’ll be fine when the Korean version comes out, i’d imagine Heather can speak Korean.