Comments on: Wrestling With Words And Meaning https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/ The Events in Human Resources and Employee Relations space, and in My World through my eyes. Wed, 29 Jun 2016 12:26:25 +0000 hourly 1 By: Aditya https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1717 Fri, 08 Jan 2016 12:57:42 +0000 http://maheksanghavi.in/blog/2015/12/27/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1717 Sir, it is always a pleasure to read your blogs, they always leave the reader more than what he/she was before.

Reading through your blog reminded me of an enquiry once I was expected to complete along with a colleague. The setting was truly interesting, firstly I was to do this abroad as part of a two member panel and some of content was in emails. These emails involved were not in the native language of the country as it involved colleagues from yet another country. After discarding all well meaning internal translations from in-house language experts and google seach, each of which differed from another, I decided to approach a professional translation agency/

A big invoice and few days later I had with me the translated script. It so happened that the entire outcome depended on just one word used in the email exchange. To be doubly sure I called upon the translator to check if there was no typo involved and no doubt in his mind.

To my astonishment, the translator immediately rattled off three different meanings of the same word and said it all depended on the context and what relationship was shared between the two parties exchanging the emails. When I pushed him further for greater clarity he took another hour of research and finally declared as a matter of fact that there was no correct literal English translation of this term. At this stage I had to share with him the context and the importance of getting all of this right. This however seemed to have the opposite effect as when he learnt of the possible consequences of how he translated that one word, he immediately was interested to know about the probability of him landing in the court. As if things were not complex enough now I had to deal with his fears as well which seemed to now play in his mind and affect his final translation.

After reassuring him of his indemnity, I finally got my translation on what he thought fit, given the context. The investigation was concluded, however I had learnt a valuable lesson, that each word has a ocean of meaning within it and black and white are colors found less often than grey!

]]> By: Endless Nonsense! https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1718 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 06:15:40 +0000 http://maheksanghavi.in/blog/2015/12/27/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1718 What a thoughtful read! I do feel that one reads what they want to read and in doing that, sometimes what the author says is not what the reader reads. This makes translation a huge responsibility and a very powerful tool. Your thoughts?

]]> By: Renjini Mary Joseph https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1719 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 06:05:01 +0000 http://maheksanghavi.in/blog/2015/12/27/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1719 This comment has been removed by the author.

]]> By: Let's Think for India https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1720 Tue, 29 Dec 2015 12:27:13 +0000 http://maheksanghavi.in/blog/2015/12/27/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1720 The omitted words – "published by"

]]> By: Let's Think for India https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1721 Tue, 29 Dec 2015 12:25:18 +0000 http://maheksanghavi.in/blog/2015/12/27/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1721 Very well articulated Vivek ji! I too cherish the memories of my interaction, though short (and just less than a year before he expired)with Mr. Chavan alias Kunal, in the context of an urgent official assignment, that pertained to my then company's attempt to reach out to workmen's families during a period of stalemate pending a long term settlement. Secondly, I relate easily to the experience of 'labour' that one goes through while translating, as a result of which I had also experienced "the baby's day out" when my 1st (translated) book was Mehta Publishing House, in 2011.

]]> By: Amit Aggarwal https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1722 Tue, 29 Dec 2015 07:22:01 +0000 http://maheksanghavi.in/blog/2015/12/27/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1722 Wonderful!!!
I tried translating the 2 statements that you wrote towards the end and failed miserably!

Translating and keeping the essence intact is quite a challenge!!!

]]> By: Zephyr https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1723 Mon, 28 Dec 2015 07:45:45 +0000 http://maheksanghavi.in/blog/2015/12/27/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1723 Translating is very tough and I admire you for translating such good works. I should know, because when I translated my own book from English to Tamil, I kept slipping into the transliteration mode! All because I only think in English and not in Tamil. And when I checked myself, I began WRITING in Tamil, instead of translating! If this can happen to one's own work, how hard it must be for others' work? I am sure you will succeed with your persistence. All the best and waiting to see your name as author (not just translator) of a book!

]]> By: nsiyer https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1724 Mon, 28 Dec 2015 04:25:43 +0000 http://maheksanghavi.in/blog/2015/12/27/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1724 Very well written and comes straight from the heart. A lot of humility which leads to great leaning for you. And to simplify the whole article by comparing it with local trains and passengers is the icing on the cake and drives home the point very beautifully.
Great going!

]]> By: Vivek Patwardhan https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1725 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 18:11:13 +0000 http://maheksanghavi.in/blog/2015/12/27/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1725 Thanks Ajit, Ulhas and Murali for your encouraging comments.
And thanks Karnik saheb for your comment too although you have removed it now.
Gratitude!
Vivek

]]> By: Muralidharan Natarajan https://vivekvsp.com/2015/12/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1727 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 14:38:13 +0000 http://maheksanghavi.in/blog/2015/12/27/wrestling-with-words-and-meaning/#comment-1727 Dear VSP, I always said this in my earlier comments you have a way with words, now I shall add you have a away of expressing yourself well, too. (come to think of it, its a superflous comment. But I shall let it be). Credit to you that you even attempt a tough job as that..Shows you are good in two(atleast) languages. I think you do a great job and strive for more perfection if any and hence come out with such open thoughts. As usual loved the way you write!

Rgds

N Muralidharan

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