Readers Educated About Reading Translations

Brand New, Non-Hype Interview ! In An Attention Deficit World, What K...

Readers Educated About Reading Translations

Many of my friends read and speak more than one language.

Alas, I have but English…

So, I became interest in an article by Alane Salierno Mason called, The Attraction-Repulsion of International Literature.

From the article:

"It remains true that American publishing houses tend to translate far fewer titles than European houses. Still, says Mason, America is becoming both more diverse and better educated. As the trend continues, the hint of the foreign should, she believes, become less challenging for readers."

Apparently, Americans (and, here, I assume they mean folks from the United States and not all the Americans in South America) have some prejudices about "foreign" authors.

The article sums up a potential resolution through education with, "It's pretty simple in the end, says Mason. In fact, it is almost unbearably obvious. 'We are all related', she says. 'Our lives and fates are interdependent'."

Mason founded Words Without Borders, which says about itself:

"Words without Borders translates, publishes, and promotes the finest contemporary international literature. Our publications and programs open doors for readers of English around the world to the multiplicity of viewpoints, richness of experience, and literary perspective on world events offered by writers in other languages."

And, to peak your interest a bit more, here's a short video about it all :-)

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