Re:The Expendable Translator
by kbutler on Sunday April 02, 2017 @08:50PM
(#14019918)
The "replaceable" nature of the translator is the key.
As long as publishers can easily get a different person to do the work with little effect on the success of the piece, translation compensation will be low.
Yes, it is a creative effort. Yes, an excellent translation (especially of poetry!) is difficult, and is a much better final product.
But if the translator's name doesn't drive sales, translators won't be compensated as if it did.
As long as publishers can easily get a different person to do the work with little effect on the success of the piece, translation compensation will be low.
Yes, it is a creative effort. Yes, an excellent translation (especially of poetry!) is difficult, and is a much better final product.
But if the translator's name doesn't drive sales, translators won't be compensated as if it did.