translatability
Aster Lit Issue 12 is a celebration of translation and multilingualism. In this special issue, we hope to explore the nuances between languages, dialects, tones, grammar structures, and other pillars of expression. From code-switching to dictionary-driven translations, we want your thoughts on the wonders, difficulties, and a-ha moments of seeing the world through language. 195 countries, 6,500+ languages, 1 planet—let’s interrogate the philosophies behind what makes communication multifaceted and human.
translatability
noun.
1) the ability to be translated
2) a property that allows an idea, word, and feeling to flow from one realm of understanding to the next
favorite words/phrases, translated with nuances
by your favorite editors <3
散文 sǎn wén (Mandarin Chinese): prose written in a way that follows “the natural flow of speech”—a short, loose essay, oftentimes poetic and describing natural phenomena like seasons
une piè d’eau (French): a piece of water, an ornamental pool or pond
motion, adaption, transformation
translatability derived from Latin translat or “to be carried across”
one letter, traced through centuries*
how does meaning shift based on the lens through which it is examined?
how do elements of language compound to embody a shared experience?
*jan misali’s videos, like this one
read the editors’ reflections
What does translatability mean to the Aster Lit team? What images, ideas, and emotions does it invoke? Read our editors’ reflections on the theme here.
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Walter Benjamin
“It is the task of the translator to release in his own language…”
Anne Michaels
“You choose your philosophy of translation just as you choose how to live.”
George Orwell
“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”
Rumi
“Silence is the language of god,
all else is poor translation.”
Mark Twain
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
Gustave Flaubert
“Human speech is like a cracked kettle on which we tap crude rhythms for bears to dance to, while we long to make music that will melt the stars.”
Markus Zusak
“The words. Why did they have to exist? Without them, there wouldn't be any of this.”