Single correct option
The passage below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures its essence.
Translation is sometimes described as a purely technical act of substituting words from one language for equivalent words in another. Literary translators reject this description. A pun, a rhythm, or a culturally specific idiom rarely has a precise counterpart in the target language, forcing the translator to choose between preserving literal meaning and preserving the effect the original text had on its readers. This is why two translations of the same novel can differ so substantially: each represents a distinct set of interpretive judgments about which of these competing fidelities matters more in a given passage.
Translation is sometimes described as a purely technical act of substituting words from one language for equivalent words in another. Literary translators reject this description. A pun, a rhythm, or a culturally specific idiom rarely has a precise counterpart in the target language, forcing the translator to choose between preserving literal meaning and preserving the effect the original text had on its readers. This is why two translations of the same novel can differ so substantially: each represents a distinct set of interpretive judgments about which of these competing fidelities matters more in a given passage.
- A. Translation is a mechanical, word-for-word process that leaves little room for a translator's individual judgment.
- B. Because exact equivalents for puns, rhythm and idiom rarely exist across languages, literary translation necessarily involves interpretive choices between literal accuracy and preserving the original's effect, explaining why translations of the same text can vary widely.
- C. Good translators always prioritize literal meaning over the emotional effect of the original text.
- D. Most disagreements between translators are ultimately resolved by referring to a dictionary.
Show answer and solution
Answer: (B) Because exact equivalents for puns, rhythm and idiom rarely exist across languages, literary translation necessarily involves interpretive choices between literal accuracy and preserving the original's effect, explaining why translations of the same text can vary widely.
The passage rejects the 'mechanical substitution' view (ruling out option A) and explains that translators must choose between literal fidelity and preserving effect, which is why translations differ. Option B captures this reasoning precisely; options C and D assert priorities or resolutions the passage never states.
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