LITERARY TRANSLATION: CONVEYING THE ESSENCE OF AUTHORS ACROSS CULTURES

Abstrak

Annotation.This  article  explores  the  complex  nature  of  literary  translation, 
emphasizing the critical role it plays in preserving the essence of an author's work when 
crossing language barriers. It highlights how translators navigate the delicate balance 
between staying true to the source text and allowing for creative flexibility to make the 
text resonate with new audiences. Challenges such as cultural references, idiomatic 
expressions, and preserving the author's voice are discussed in detail. Examples from 
renowned literary translators, including Gregory Rabassa’s translation of One Hundred 
Years of Solitude and Lydia Davis’s work on Proust’s Swann’s Way, serve to illustrate 
the nuanced decision-making process involved in literary translation. The article also 
addresses  the  difficulties  of  translating  poetry,  where  form  and  meaning  are  often 
tightly  bound.  Ultimately,  it  positions  the  translator  as  a  co-creator,  whose  deep 
understanding of both language and culture allows literary works to transcend borders, 
making them accessible to global readers. The contribution of literary translators to 
cross-cultural communication and the preservation of global literature is underscored 
as essential in an increasingly interconnected world.