While writing my last post for Tiger Beatdown I came across one of my usual roadblocks: translation. Later on my roadblock was solved when I found a copy of the study I wanted to quote in English, so I could use the researchers’ preferred terms.
However, here’s the thing, translation, for me, is more than a word by word transcription from one language to another. Subjectivity and my personal experience of the culture also play a role. When I pick a word, I discard another which, for another translator would probably be a better choice. I try to pick the words that, I believe, best illustrate a concept, idea or cultural framework; even if said word might not be the number one technical choice.
Sometimes, when I hit a roadblock like the one mentioned above, I check out forums for translators to see what other people did when faced with the same situation. And this is when I came across this gem. In a discussion about the Women’s Police Stations, a very specific phenomenon born out of Latin America’s approach to gender violence, a (male) translator believes that, when rendering the concept in English, they should be called “Family Police Precincts” in order to be inclusive of men and keep them in mind so that they do not feel alienated. Which completely distorts the meaning and cultural background of these police precincts as they are meant unequivocally for women, children and the very specific gender related violence they face.
Translation and the rhetorical interpretation of ideology. I guess that’s a whole can of worms.
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