404. Why are Pope Francis’ Translators so Dim?

Credits: Wikipedia

Pope Francis’ English translators are either afraid, too conservative or simply dim because it seems half the time someone, somewhere is screwing-up and not interpreting even remotely what Pope Francis says. In other words some of the English translations wipe out all the shine, lustre, buoyancy, freshness and humanity of what I read in the Italian versions. That means some English translators, (and there must be more than one because the difference in translations from one day to the next is as conspicuous as night is to day), seem to think that an academic, dried up summary of what “they” think has been said, suffices.

This is completely outrageous! You can’t treat people like that. This is a people’s Pope and the people have a right to know what he wants to say to them and how he wants to say it to them and no translator should get in the way by obstructing such communication.

Unless I give you some examples you may think I am talking from the top of my head so here they are- I have chosen the most recent but there are many others.

In a homily given on 7^th January at a certain point Pope Francis wants to describe how our hearts can be distracted- he could have said just that, which is precisely as some translators would have interpreted it namely: “Our hearts become distracted.” But those words do not give us a picture of what our hearts have become and such a description remains academic, sterile and something easily forgotten without leaving any kind of imprint in our minds. Instead this is how Pope Francis put it:

And many times our heart, and with so many things that come and go, seems a local market: everything, you can find everything there…

How much more vibrant is that to “Our hearts become distracted”? And we have to be thankful to this particular Vatican Radio translator for having had the insight of translating, the feeling, the meaning, the humanity of Pope Francis’ words as he spoke them in Italian.

Alas, this is not always the case. For example take the speech given to last Wednesday’s Audience, January 8^th.  Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of one thing- the date of our baptism and this is how he puts it in Italian:

“Molti di noi – ha osservato - non hanno il minimo ricordo della celebrazione di questo Sacramento, ed è ovvio, se siamo stati battezzati poco dopo la nascita”. E a braccio ha aggiunto: “Io ho fatto questa domanda due o tre volte, qui, in piazza: chi di voi sa la data del suo battesimo, alzi la mano. Chi la sa? Eh, pochi, eh? Pochi. Ma, è importante, è importante conoscere qual è stato il giorno nel quale io sono stato immerso, messo proprio in quella corrente di salvezza di Gesù. E mi permetto di darvi un consiglio. Ma, più che un consiglio, un compito per oggi. Oggi, a casa, cercate, domandate la data del battesimo e così saprete bene qual è stato il giorno tanto bello del battesimo. Lo farete? [La gente risponde: sì!] Non sento entusiasmo … lo farete? [La gente grida più forte: sì!] Eh, sì! Perché è conoscere una data felice, quella del nostro battesimo”. 

And yet not a word of this transpires in the English translation… pity because it’s such a lovely and memorable piece to take away with you. Yes, I could translate it for you, but why should I- Vatican Radio officials have to be aware of what they are depriving the English speaking world…

The Pope tells the people that he had asked two or three times if people knew when they were baptised, “put your hands up if you know. Eh few, eh few. But it is important, it is important to know the day when I was immersed, placed in that current of the Salvation of Jesus. And allow me to give you some advice. Rather, more than advice, some homework. Today at home look for, ask for the date of your baptism and so you will know for sure when that day was, that beautiful day of your baptism. Will you do it? (The people answer: Yes!) I can’t hear any enthusiasm… will you do it? (The people cry louder: Yes!”) Eh yes! Because it is to know a happy date, that of our baptism.

My translation.

I am curious to see how Pope Francis’ words today, i.e. that love is not like a soap opera will be interpreted. I’m sure Pope Francis did not choose such terminology by chance, since the term “soap opera” conjures up a richness of imagery in people’s mind. Also, given that Argentina, in particular, is a large exporter of such, Pope Francis knows full well how meaningful the term "soap opera" is to people.  

Let’s hope translators, not just today but also in the future, will have insight enough to read between the lines of what Pope Francis says and not overlook what may appear simple details to academics but which for the people have great significance and meaning.