Translation analysis results explained
The article:
"Larsson, Remade: A Computational Perspective on the Millennium Trilogy in English," was published online by Cambridge University Press on April 17, 2024. Authored by Karl Berglund and Sarah Allison, the essay explores the transformation of Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy in its English translation¹.
The study employs computational methods to analyze the novels in both Swedish and English, identifying significant changes to paragraph meaning and length across the three books. It found that approximately 6.3% of the paragraphs were either cut or shortened by at least 30%. These alterations highlight a process of creative remaking, where published works are adapted to meet commercial expectations and the demands of high production speed¹.
This research connects the market-driven metamorphosis of paratexts to substantial modifications in the literary content itself, suggesting that the translation process involves numerous stakeholders beyond the author and translator, including publishers, editors, and proofreaders, who collectively shape the text for its target audience¹.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 4/23/2024
(1) Larsson, Remade: A Computational Perspective on the Millennium Trilogy .... Link.
(2) Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Link.
(3) Sarah Allison | Curriculum Vitae Loyola U New Orleans sallison@loyno .... Link.
(4) undefined. Link.
The last paragraph of the article summary discusses the complex process of translating literary works. It suggests that when a book is translated, the final product is not solely the result of the author's original text and the translator's interpretation. Instead, it is shaped by a collective effort involving various professionals in the publishing industry.
This includes publishers, who decide on the market strategy; editors, who refine the text for readability and marketability; and proofreaders, who ensure the text is error-free. Each of these stakeholders influences the text, potentially altering its content and structure to better suit the expectations of the new audience.
The paragraph emphasizes that translation is not just a linguistic task but also a creative remaking. This means that the translated work is often a new creation that reflects the cultural and commercial norms of the target language's market. The study's findings about changes in paragraph meaning and length in the English version of the Millennium trilogy illustrate this point, showing how the translated text can significantly differ from the original.