Further to Timothy Garton Ash’s article in The Guardian, and my response, here, French journalist Agnès Poirier has responded in the same newspaper, here.
I find the piece typically French!
Disclaimer…. I do love France, and occasionally, the French, but they’re so sensitive, it makes it impossible not to tease!
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In my opinion this illustrious French journalist is right when she considers British intellectuals. The number of authors in English in the world is by far higher than any other language except perhaps Spanish, in my opinion. She also includes American, Canadian, Irish, South African, in the same bag, however. Do you think with this quantity of authors you really need many translations.
But I am a fanatic reader of English modern literature and am of the opinion, too, that works should always be read in their original version. I am more than tired of translators that ill-treat authors’ thoughts. If there is no possibility because you do not know the particular language, then a translation is welcome.
More articles by Poirier here http://www.agnespoirier.com/articles.asp?language=en
Certainly she’s right when she says that Brits don’t source enough of their reading matter from abroad, but I wonder how much of that French translated copy is from English!!!??? I great deal I’d bet!
Getting very indignant now I know, but attractive French intellectuals do this to me!
I would dare to say, Tyger, that half the French reading matter is translations from English, if not more.
We have many translated English works in Spain, but I would not risk to say what this illustrious French journalist says.
Translators in France and Spain and in most parts of the world, are an important chapter of the reading society.
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