«The translator, no matter how true he thinks he's staying to the text, still brings his own life experiences and opinions to the decisions he makes. Maybe not consciously, but every time a choice is made between one meaning of a word or another, the translator determines which one to use based on what he believes is correct, based on his own personal history with the subject.»
Every translator, regardless of their efforts to faithfully reproduce the original text, inevitably filters the content through their personal lens. Their life experiences, beliefs, and cultural background subtly influence the choices they make during translation. These choices are often made unconsciously but have a significant impact on how the translated work is understood and received.
As Stephanie Perkins emphasizes, when a translator chooses between different possible meanings of a word or phrase, they rely on their own judgment of what is correct. This decision is shaped by their prior knowledge and personal history with the subject matter, highlighting the inherent subjectivity in the translation process despite the desire to stay true to the original text.
