Celebrating women writers in languages other than English
During the summer months, many of us have more time to read. Perhaps we take advantage of a relaxing holiday to catch up on those books piled on our shelves all winter, or maybe the longer, lighter evenings help us turn to the written word rather than our favourite Netflix series. A glass of something cold, a comfy seat in the garden or local park and a book in your hand – no better way to pass the time.
But how do you choose your next read? Do you have a ‘go-to’ genre or author? Do you wait for a friend or family member to recommend a book? The subject matter is, of course, a key factor for most of us, as is where and when the book is set. We might also be swayed by its presence on a best seller list or even the attractive cover design.
However, reading in translation is usually quite far down the list of criteria. For those of us whose native tongue is English, the choice of published English language books is so vast, that we probably don’t read in translation very frequently. And that’s perhaps not entirely our fault. The number of translated books on offer for English readers isn’t huge.
Only three per cent
Calculating how many works in translation are published each year is difficult because figures haven’t been regularly collected. The original estimate that three per cent of all books published in the United States were translations, was first put forward by publishing house, Bowker.
Since 2008 the University of Rochester has been collecting data on newly translated fiction and poetry in the United States and publishing updates via its website. It named its site ‘Three Percent’ in an effort to draw attention to the startlingly low number of translated works published in the US yearly. This is in comparison to how many books are released in total.
However, of the number of translated books published stateside, in 2008 only 22% were by women writers. That meant that for every four translations going to print, three were written by men. And it’s fair to assume that this was similar in other English-speaking markets.
Women in Translation impact
Since the Women in Translation campaign first launched in 2013, that percentage has increased impressively. By 2022 the published number of translated works of fiction or poetry in the US written by women was up to 47% of the total, an incredible rise. While the total number of translations has remained roughly the same, at least women’s voices are now much better represented.
The impact of Women in Translation month is undeniable. From modest beginnings in August 2014, this time of year is now synonymous with reading translated women’s literature on both sides of the Atlantic. Suggestions and lists abound, from leading media sites and publishers to literary and translation bloggers; prominent voices from the world of books jump on the chance to talk about the female authors they’ve enjoyed or would like to read.
Boosted by the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation (created by the University of Warwick in 2017), the Women in Translation movement is going from strength to strength.
Why translated books matter
In the twenty-first century, with its superfast connections and always-on culture, it feels like lifestyles across the globe are becoming similar. We can call our preferred taxi company in cities everywhere, eat our favourite takeaways worldwide and tap our credit cards to pay for anything we need, wherever we might be.
Although these are shared conveniences and symbolic of increasing globalisation, this isn’t what unites us. The diversity of our societies, cultures and traditions is what defines the human experience. If we are to continue to learn about each other and try to understand our differences, reading about other people’s lives, problems and passions is essential. Increasing our knowledge of one another through reading translated works can play a huge part in that.
And of course, that will only work if what we read is representative of all voices, not just those that dominate. That’s why translating and publishing more works by women written in languages other than English is important. The campaign also includes trans, nonbinary and intersex authors, when they wish to be considered. To quote the Women in Translation website, ‘Every story counts’.
The challenge of literary translation
The task of recreating literary works in a new language isn’t easy. It takes highly skilled translators many years to perfect their craft and is certainly not a profession that can be picked up quickly. To be able to feel and convey someone else’s message and meaning in another language requires considerable talent, and literary translators have empathy and sensitivity in bucket loads. They are also incredibly gifted linguists.
These are qualities that artificial intelligence doesn’t possess. As CEATL (European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations) points out, ‘machines are not translators but ‘translatoids’’. They simply regurgitate texts that have been previously written by humans and their objective is only to provide textual material. AI models don’t create original work inspired by their lived experience. They can’t because they don’t have any experience.
What the advances in AI have done is throw a spotlight on language and help illustrate how intrinsic it is to being human. We now face the daily conundrum of trying to decide if what we read – be it a tweet, marketing copy or a journalistic report – has been written by a person or a machine. Our trust in the written word is tested constantly. Fortunately, however, when we open a book, there is no doubt.
Perhaps as we become more aware of the limitations (and strengths) of AI language generation, we will also learn to appreciate the very human abilities that are needed to write compelling, impassioned and exhilarating works of literature.
Hopefully, in this age of AI, we will learn to put proper value on the mastery of writers in all languages and the amazing abilities of the translators who bring their work into our lives.
Our recommendations
We’ve chosen 3 books by women writing in German as a nod to our roots here at t’works. We hope our recommendations will inspire you to discover different stories from different voices.
These are for readers in English. We do, of course, encourage you to read women writers translated into any other languages.
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated from German by Michael Hofman.
Renowned German writer Jenny Erpenbeck was awarded the 2024 International Booker Prize for this ‘intimate and devastating story’ of lost love, set against a time of immense upheaval in Europe.
The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischvili, translated from German by Charlotte Collins and Ruth Martin
A sweeping and engrossing family saga that uses a century of Georgian history as the backdrop to tales of romance, power and tragedy. It is a captivating epic that effortlessly carries the reader along the 900-page journey.
Hotel Cartagena by Simone Buchholz, translated from German by Rachel Ward.
Winner of the CWA Crime in Translation Dagger 2022, this fourth book in the Chastity Riley series is a ‘searing, relevant thriller’ and a fantastic way to discover the talents of this German author.
Other places to look for inspiration for your reading in translation might be the websites of the Warwick Prize for Women in Fiction, Women in Translation or the International Booker Prize
Talk to t’works
t’works is your professional partner for all multilingual communication. We have more than seventy-five years’ experience in the translation and localisation sector and we offer our clients a one-stop service in all languages from our locations around the globe.Get in touch with us today to talk about your multilingual projects.
