By Richa
Editor's note: This reflection is adapted from Richa's July 2021 internship assignment. It describes her interests and goals at that time, not her current qualifications or career status.
My interest in translation began with reading literature. Novels, fiction and poetry can raise questions about society without speaking directly to the reader. I enjoy discovering how writers from different regions describe their surroundings, customs and ways of life. I want to help other readers encounter those worlds too.
From reading to literary translation
Reading across languages interests me because a story carries more than its plot. The social setting, the way people speak and the writer's choices all shape the reading experience. My goal is to learn how to translate literary material with care, rather than limiting that experience to my own reading.
In my original assignment, I described studying English literature and pursuing translation training. I saw that training as a way to understand the principles of translation and to build the skills needed to share literary work with a wider audience. I also hoped to study more languages, including German or French.
Writing as part of learning
I write poetry as well as read it. Writing gives me a break from a hectic city routine and a way to express what I am thinking. That interest in words is one reason I want to keep learning about translation. Enjoying literature is a starting point; learning how to translate it is a further goal.
An interest in interpreting
My plans also included interpreting. I enjoy communicating with people in different languages and wanted to develop that interest alongside literary translation. In the assignment, I hoped that the Modlingua internship would help me improve my abilities and gain experience. Those were aspirations, not a claim that I had already become a professional translator or interpreter.
For me, the connection between reading, writing and translation is the wish to share what I discover. Learning more languages and practising translation are ways to work toward that goal.
