Comments on: Historians as Translators http://andrews06.wordpress.com/2007/02/14/historians-as-translators/ Enjoying the Academic Journey Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:57:57 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Lee Ann Ghajar http://andrews06.wordpress.com/2007/02/14/historians-as-translators/#comment-270 Lee Ann Ghajar Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:57:58 +0000 http://andrews06.wordpress.com/2007/02/14/historians-as-translators/#comment-270 Re should the digital historian act as a digital archivist or a polyglot--well, I think the easy answer is also the best one in this case. How about both or either/or, depending upon the kind of digital resource we're talking about and the audience for that resource? For researchers, you're absolutely right--the engagement comes as we work with the archives. But other kinds of engagement are possible as well with some kinds of archival material. Geopositioning and tagging come to mind off the top. Re should the digital historian act as a digital archivist or a polyglot–well, I think the easy answer is also the best one in this case. How about both or either/or, depending upon the kind of digital resource we’re talking about and the audience for that resource? For researchers, you’re absolutely right–the engagement comes as we work with the archives. But other kinds of engagement are possible as well with some kinds of archival material. Geopositioning and tagging come to mind off the top.

]]> By: Laura http://andrews06.wordpress.com/2007/02/14/historians-as-translators/#comment-269 Laura Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:40:17 +0000 http://andrews06.wordpress.com/2007/02/14/historians-as-translators/#comment-269 Yes, Bill, in creating a narrative about the past, historians act as an “interpreter” of that past. However, I was speaking directly about what “The Polyglot Manifesto” had to say when it quoted Jaroslav Pelikan: <blockquote>...by an act of historical imagination to serve as an interpreter of them, “interpreter” being, interestingly, the very word we use both for the translator and for the historian.</blockquote> Perhaps it's Pelikan's conflating the terms “interpreter” and “translator” —when it applies to a person who translates from one language to another, it makes sense; when it applies to a historian, I'm not so sure. When you think of a translator, you think of someone who translates word for word, idea for idea (with some room for the differences between the languages). The interpreting historians do, I think, is much less literal, much more <em>interpretive</em>. As you rightly pointed out, histories written a century ago differ greatly from histories written today. Clearly new perspectives bring new ideas to interpreting the past. So, interpreter, yes, but translator no. Yes, Bill, in creating a narrative about the past, historians act as an “interpreter” of that past. However, I was speaking directly about what “The Polyglot Manifesto” had to say when it quoted Jaroslav Pelikan:

…by an act of historical imagination to serve as an interpreter of them, “interpreter” being, interestingly, the very word we use both for the translator and for the historian.

Perhaps it’s Pelikan’s conflating the terms “interpreter” and “translator” —when it applies to a person who translates from one language to another, it makes sense; when it applies to a historian, I’m not so sure. When you think of a translator, you think of someone who translates word for word, idea for idea (with some room for the differences between the languages). The interpreting historians do, I think, is much less literal, much more interpretive. As you rightly pointed out, histories written a century ago differ greatly from histories written today. Clearly new perspectives bring new ideas to interpreting the past. So, interpreter, yes, but translator no.

]]> By: Dieter Stenger http://andrews06.wordpress.com/2007/02/14/historians-as-translators/#comment-267 Dieter Stenger Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:58:27 +0000 http://andrews06.wordpress.com/2007/02/14/historians-as-translators/#comment-267 Bill, I don't know if you got the word, but next week there are some interesting presentations at NWC for the visiting Japanese delegation to CMH. If you send me your email address I would be more than happy to send you the schedule. Clio Wired II looks interesting- wish I was there... Dieter Bill,

I don’t know if you got the word, but next week there are some interesting presentations at NWC for the visiting Japanese delegation to CMH. If you send me your email address I would be more than happy to send you the schedule.

Clio Wired II looks interesting- wish I was there…

Dieter

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