The Nation Born in Translation (Latvian Translation Scene)

Abstract

Latvian national identity (language-centred), the literary polysystem and even the written language itself are the result of translation. Translations have always constituted the majority of literary and other texts. Translation played an exceptionally important, even pivotal, role in the beginnings of written Latvian in the 16th-18th centuries. Translators (native German speakers) formed, codified and modified written Latvian. Religious translations applied a rigorous fidelity approach. Secular translations were localizations of easy reading, sentimental German stories. Parallel to the rise of native literature in the 19th century, there occurred a gradual transition from adaptation /domestication to foreignization and fidelity as the main approach. More ambitious translations of Western classics started, usually done by distinguished Latvian writers. Next to the traditional faithfulness, some translations were freely shortened and otherwise modified. After acquiring independence at the beginning of the 20th century the volume of translation grew and included also literature from more exotic sources. The Soviet period brought a re-orientation: most translations were done from Russian, fiction was translated from the original languages or via Russian as well. Regaining of independence brought about an enormous growth in the translated information amount; within 5 years English became the dominant source language. Translation again (like in the early stage of Latvian) became the main vehicle of language development. In a somewhat paradoxical way translators have formed, altered and inspired a strong language-bound national identity. Their voice, though not always heard and recognized, has been central in the Latvian narrative polyphony.

Translations, Translators and Translation Criticism in Latvia Between the Wars (1918–1940)

“…In the last decade of his life Rainis translated also Calderon and Byron's Cain. Continuing the tradition (Veisbergs, 2014a), many masters of native Latvian literature still practised translation to hone the literary skills, to borrow ideas and, of course, to earn extra money. Around the turn of the 20 th century, the Latvian literary scene had converged with the contemporary European literature, it followed Western trends and was part of them.…”

“…There are translations not identified as such (usually adaptations), and translations posing as original works. The interwar period of Latvian independence saw a degree of stabilisation and the establishment of a certain hierarchy as regards the basic paratexts (Veisbergs, 2014a): serious translations give the translator's name, usually also mentioning the language of the original. If the work was deemed very serious, notes and an introduction by the translator could be expected.…”

The Translation Scene in Latvia During the German Occupation

“…This was a change from the total dominance of German as source and intermediary language until the end of the 19 th century (and even after the National Awakening in the mid19 th century, whose ideology was to a large extent antiGerman). The literature translated was also extremely varied, as was the quality of translations (Veisbergs, 2014a(Veisbergs, , 2014b. The print runs were not very large: 2793 in 1938 when 1601 books were produced.…”

Three Milestones of Latvian Translation Criticism

“…Translation histories in general are intertwined with processes in culture, religion and politics, the same applies to the Latvian translation scene which has had a very turbulent and changing history (Veisbergs 2016). Although writing about translation in Latvia has a shorter history than translation itself, some of the criticism influenced the way translations were considered and produced.…”