The Elusive Art of Translation

Who are the people who translate books into other languages and how do they do it? My guests today are two amazing, professional translators who speak and write in many languages, Katioucha Zakhanevitch in Belgium and Corinna Kaebel in Austria.

The elusive art of translation is something that requires more than just the ability to speak and read in multiple languages. It requires a deep understanding of the cultural context, intuition, creativity, and skill as a writer.

Tune in to learn what it takes to be a great translator, how translation is a creative process, and why it’s important to understand the energy of the book and the intention of the author above all else.

Key takeaways

• To translate, you need to have fluency in both languages and understand the cultural context, what’s behind the words


• It’s important to be true to the author and true to the audience


• A translation isn’t just a commodity, it’s a creation in itself


• Listening to the book, the rhythm, the sound, the tone of the text


• When it works and when it doesn’t work: you just know, it’s a gut feeling