Goan Literature and Translation! Essay

Goa has been reflected in many ways. It is sometimes reflected through people, through its culture and sometimes through literature. Goan reflection is nothing but the projection of Goa as a land, Goa’s socio-economic life and contemporary Goan expressions. According to Prof. Peter Nazareth â€Å"Goans have written in thirteen languages. Goans meditate between cultures, Goans live between different cultures, Goans are travelers from one part to another†¦. We can understand different cultures and help people from different cultures understand one another. But the disadvantage is that if we don’t work on it, we may end up not knowing who we are. † Today Goa is portrayed as something different than what it is in reality. And not just the media is to be blamed but also the Goans are to be blamed who allowed themselves to be portrayed in a negative manner. Goan literature is one of the important tools which reflect Goa in its true sense. But the problem with Goan literature was that most of the literature was written in local languages like Konkani and Marathi and only a few people could read and understand what Goa actually is and what are the issues related to this land. The solution to tackle this problem is nothing else but translation. 1. 2. Translation: Bridging Gaps The dictionary meaning of the word â€Å"translation† is â€Å"to express in another language or other words†. It’s also the transference and substitution from one to another language. Translation according to Dr. Johnson involves the process of change into another language, retaining the sense which is the basic objective. The main process is to search for the right words. A translation is both imitation as well as a faithful creation as well as free, i.e. why a translated literary work is viewed not as an exact replica of the original but a version of it. Translation is not only a linguistic activity but also a cultural one because it involves a study of culture. The western translators in the past considered translations as subsidiary and derogative and they believed that translation did not have much dignity. But the Indians believed that translation is a valuable activity. And thus high amount of work has been done in India in the field of translation. Many works from Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, and Hindi have been translated into English. A few important translations from regional languages to English are Gora By Rabindranath Tagore originally written in Bengali and then translated in English by many translators, â€Å"Samskara† by U. R. Anathamurthy originally written in Kannada and then translated into English by A. K. Ramanujan, â€Å"Tamas† by Bhism Sahani originally written in Hindi but then the author himself translated the work into English. As well as different texts from one language have been translated into other Indian languages. Translation has, in recent years added an immeasurable dimension to our awareness of the layered texture, the resonance and the depth of Indian society. It has enhanced knowledge of our multilingual, multicultural personality. Indeed, only through good translations can there be communication and understanding of continuum of other common heritage. Translation from Konkani does more than that; it creates awareness of the very existence of the language and region. Translation enriches comprehension of a wounded culture, the bond of language that unites a dispersed community, and the values that have sustained it.