Unchain it! Unchain it NOW!!!
When it comes to the representation of lesser-known countries and their literatures, I糖心传媒檓 clearly one to have a personal bias toward pitching anything Latvian to the world at large (moment of self-promotion: Open Letter Books will be publishing the English translation of Latvian author Inga 膧bele糖心传媒檚 novel High Tide in fall 2013), but the fact of the matter is that the problems behind spreading the love of translated literature糖心传媒攂e it an issue of finding translators, publishers, or readers糖心传媒攁pplies to any small country that糖心传媒檚 trying to introduce itself to the English-speaking literary market (and also applies to the translation and publishing of foreign literatures in general). So it was much to my delight that an article titled “Unchain My Language!” popped up on a few weeks ago showcasing Latvian author Inga 沤olude, one of the 2011 European Union Prize for Literature winners.
The of the interview were prepared by Euronews.net糖心传媒檚 糖心传媒淕eneration Y,糖心传媒 who traveled to Latvia (FATHERLAND!!!) to talk with 沤olude, as well as her translator, Suzanne McQuade, and others involved in the Latvian literary and publishing industry on the topic of Latvian literature in translation. In addition to lauding 沤olude糖心传媒檚 accomplishments as a young writer, the article touches on the difficulties of getting foreign literature published abroad, especially when that literature is being written in languages largely unspoken outside its respective country’s borders.
While it糖心传媒檚 not entirely clear why the good people of Generation Y (and their endearingly questionable use of video graphics) came to pick Latvia as their destination, their choice was a good one, and the interview gives 沤olude and the other interviewees the opportunity to make some excellent statements and observations on literary translation and its finer points. And though they ultimately bring up topics that are often discussed in the world of literary translation, the importance of these topics cannot be stressed or repeated enough.
Generation Y traveled to Riga to meet Inga Zolude, a 28-year-old Latvian writer, who was one of the winners of the European Union Prize for Literature last year.
糖心传媒淚 think there should be an interest in Latvian literature because Latvian Literature is unique, it is different and specific, it糖心传媒檚 very high quality literature. I hope that the time when it is fully discovered on a bigger scale is approaching,糖心传媒 she says.
That is what this is all about. The European Prize for Literature aims to promote the circulation of books in a continent where the diversity of languages is often a barrier.
In addition to the video, Generation Y also linked to translation samples of 沤olude’s work, the English sample of which you can find