Importance of Translation: Kafka

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With the help of modern technology, translation of literature and other texts from language to language has become more efficient and effective than ever before, allowing a bigger number of people to enjoy literary works without being limited by the language they are familiar with or the language the author originally wrote in. However, with languages being inherently unique and literature ever so figurative and descriptive, translating can be difficult and lengthy. Sometimes, the creative aspects of the original source, in its original language, can be lost once the work is translated because the particular words the author chose in their native tongue may no longer flow as well or make as much sense in the translated version. This poses a challenge to translators as they must balance remaining as true and faithful to the original version yet also creating a translated version that makes sense in the new language and can instill the same feelings in the reader as the original did.

The Metamorphosis, published in 1915 and written by Franz Kafka, a Bohemian German-speaking novelist, tells the story of a traveling salesman named Gregor Samsa who suddenly awakens one morning to find himself having been transformed into a large insect. The novella follows Gregor's transformation story and his struggle to come to terms with his new form and way of living. Kafka's The Metamorphosis deeply resonated with many following World War I and its atrocities as individuals attempted to understand and accept what had happened. Many could relate to the absurdity, alienation, anxiety, and the inexplicable nature of the world being explored in the novella and could see a correlation to their own reality when dealing with the drastic effects the war had on society. 

Below are analyses of four separate translations of the first sentence of the original German-written novella The Metamorphosis. Key components being assessed in each are diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and other figurative elements.

Original: 

"Als Gregor Samsa eines Morgens aus unruhigen Träumen erwachte, fand er sich in seinem Bett zu einem ungeheuren Ungeziefer verwandelt."

Translation 1:

"Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug."

1. Diction: This first translation is arguably the simplest of these four translations. Words such as "woke," "changed," "giant," and "bug" are all very direct and basic, lacking description. Additionally, the name "Gregor" has been altered to the more common and less formal "Gregory."
2. Syntax: Like the diction, the syntax of this sentence is simple. The sentence lacks any commas or conjunctions and is instead just a very direct and straightforward narrative style.
3. Imagery: No extensive imagery or description is present in this sentence besides very minor details like the word "giant" when describing the bug or "uneasy" when describing the dreams.
4. Structure: This translation is direct, simple, and minimally descriptive. There is little variance in this sentence as it follows one of the most basic sentence structures in language: subject, verb, and the object. It can be assumed that the rest of the novella would follow this same straightforward pattern as well with the overall goal of the translator being to create a translation that can be easily understood by almost everyone.

Translation 2:

"When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug."

1. Diction: This second translation is slightly more detailed than the first with its inclusion of descriptive words like "troubled," "transformed," and "enormous." Descriptive words are important in writing because they appeal more to the reader and provide entertainment. Descriptive words feel more exciting than words that are very simple and direct. 
2. Syntax: The syntax is more complex than the first translation. It fully establishes everything the reader needs to know, including the main character and what happened to him. The only thing that feels off with the syntax is the inclusion of "in his bed." It is a fine detail to keep, as it established where the transformation occurred, but it would fit better if it did not come directly after "transformed" but rather at the very end of the sentence. It also feels slightly rushed.
3. Imagery: As established above, the diction used is a lot more figurative. The words "transformed" and "enormous" help provide context to the reader that Gregor's transition into a bug was more complex than just "changing" into one, as well as shows that he had grown dramatically inside. This imagery allows the reader to fully understand what is happening.
4. Structure: This sentence uses the past tense, which makes the reader feel as though they are reading something that has already happened. This varies from if the story was told from the present tense, which would make the reader feel like they are in on the action. Overall, this sentence is more complex than the first translation and provides a better context for the story's audience. 

Translation 3:

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect."

1. Diction: Translation 3 is much the same as the second one with the amount of detail and complexity. This translation incorporates "transformed" just as the previous translation, but this time it replaces the word "bug" with "insect." "Insect" feels much more scientific, formal, and obscure than "bug" and relates more closely with the technical feel of the title of the novella, The Metamorphosis. 
2. Syntax: Like the previous translation, this third one establishes everything the reader needs to know yet also doesn't include commas either. Both translations could have been slowed down and less rushed had there been the inclusion of commas. This one also uses "in his bed" after "transformed," which as established, could have been added at the end to sound better.
3. Imagery: The inclusion of the word "gigantic" provides context to the reader as to how big of an insect Gregor has transitioned into. This descriptive word once again adds to the entertainment and allure of the first line of the novella.
4. Structure: The use of the word "as" makes the structure of this translation really unique because it implies Gregor is waking up while also noticing simultaneously that he has become an insect. This is very different from the other translations as they have been in chronological, step-by-step order.

Translation 4:

"One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin."

1. Diction: This fourth translation has the most interesting yet purposeful diction within in it. It is by far the most detailed and elaborative and uses words such as "upon," "agitated," "transformed," "monstrous," and "vermin." These words are not only highly detailed but also more complex descriptive words than all of the words in the other translations. Additionally, the connotations of these words are a lot more negative and eerie. 
2. Syntax: Given that there are commas and adequate pauses, this translation of the first sentence flows a little bit better than the other ones. 
3. Imagery: The diction of this translation paints a very clear but creepy picture in the reader's heads. The word choice makes the reader feel as though they should be deeply disturbed and almost frightened. The combination of the words "monstrous" and "vermin" allude to Gregor's new form to be almost horrific and other-worldly. 
4. Structure: This structure is nice to follow because it's very chronological. It establishes the time, then the act of waking up, then Gregor realizing he has transformed. 

In conclusion, the way in which a text is translated from language to language can be quite challenging. Word choice, syntax, punctuation, and imagery all play a crucial role in the telling of a story, and one alteration can drastically change the overall meaning of what is being said. It is important for translators to be delicate in their translation as these shifts in these different areas could create a new meaning to the reader or a new feeling that is emitted when they read something that was different from the original author's intent. 

Word choice is one of the most effective ways that a translated version of a text can instill a different meaning than the original text or its fellow translations. For instance, the more detailed and descriptive adjectives are, the more heightened a connotation can be. As seen in the fourth translation, the use of "monstrous vermin" compared to the first translation's "huge bug" has a completely different meaning and emits a darker and more disturbing feeling and truly highlights the absurdity of Kafka's The Metamorphosis. Additionally, syntax and the overall structure of the sentence is just as important to translation as it aids in fluidity and the general ability for readers to comprehend what is going on. Imagery is also a key aspect to a translation, but I found it doesn't necessarily impact the ability of an audience to understand what is being said in the sentence but rather goes hand in hand with the word choice and can impact connotations. 

Overall, when it comes to translating literature, it is crucial for the translator to make sure the new version of a text still remains faithful to the original text but also ensures that comprehensibility and understanding are not destroyed in the new language.