Value of Literature in Translation

"Literature offers a crucial window into the lives of others, promoting empathy and understanding in a way that travelling somewhere rarely does. By not translating more widely, publishers are denying us greater exposure to on of the reading's most vital functions." Translation is not merely a conversion process. It is more complex than replacing a piece of text into another with a target language. We should consider translators as mediators between two cultures. Rather than substituting one form of a word to another, the translator has the capacity to enhance our understanding on different cultures and by mediating ideas across situational boundaries. Presently, literary works from around the world have made their way into foreign reading lists and has been integrated in education systems, the IB for instance. This is a cause for rejoicing, as literature in translation can hold great value. Translation is a means of cultural interactions, and exposes readers to  different customs and experiences. Furthermore, translation can play a role in politics and act as an tool for reconciliation and social integration. It can thus have a distinct effect on how global and human rights issues can be communicated. Translated literature can be regarded as "a new type of literature" and also an independent type of foreign and native literature, because the translator's ideas of meaning and context of interoperation can be added into the original work. For that reason, it is important to make note that readers should be aware of the context in which the literature was written in order to familiarize the author's true intentions in integrating stylistic features and linguistic devices. In one of the readings in class, the author argues that there are implications posed on both the reader and translator when dealing with translated texts. Many translators translate work without having the full awareness of the work's background. Many readers also follow the same habit, and read translated literature as if they are english books. When translating or reading a translated text, one should recognize the significance of translation in shaping meaning. If an individual