Four Thought - Ranjini Obeyesekere: Lost in Translation?
Download Ranjini Obeyesekere: Lost in Translation?
William Dalrymple introduces Ranjini Obeyesekere in Four Thought at the Jaipur Literature Festival. Obeyesekere - the Sri Lankan writer, translator and academic - argues that "translations are often considered a second-class activity, done by hacks" but that, however imperfect the result, making a work written in one language available in another, is a profoundly important art. But there are difficult questions. Is a bad translation better than no translation? Is true translation, in fact, the art of the impossible?
Published on Wednesday, 3rd April 2013.
Available Podcasts from Four Thought
We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Four Thought webpage.