Translation Conference
5. Translation Standards, Criteria, and Training/Curriculum
Part One
Thomas Yarnall (AIBS, Columbia University), Christian Wedemeyer (University of Chicago Divinity School, AIBS)
Part Two
Luis Gomez (Casa Tibet Mexico), Jules Levinson, Karen Lang (University of Virginia), Lhakdor (LTWA), Michael Hahn, Shrikant Bahulkar (CUTS, University of Pune, Oriental Research Institute), Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche (84000), Lozang Jamspal (Columbia University, AIBS)
These two sessions seek to stimulate a dialog among all translator/scholars with the aim to begin to develop a series of criteria, standards, and guidelines which can be agreed upon—as universally as practical, possible, and desirable—
- to evaluate existing Tengyur translations
- to guide and evaluate ongoing and future translations
- to develop curricular materials and resources for training translators to be able to meet agreed–upon standards (and perhaps for offering some sort of “certification” to them).
Some of the issues considered, evaluated, debated, ranked, etc. include the following:
Linguistic/Knowledge Issues
- Knowledge of Tibetan
- Knowledge of Sanskrit language
- Target language = native language (of translator, or of collaborator/editor)
- Knowledge/understanding of the Dharma
- Consultation/collaboration with native Tibetan speaker
- Consultation/collaboration with Tibetan Lama/Geshe
Issues of Background, General Knowledge, and Style
- Translation style (attention to this; evocative preferred to “literal,” etc.)
- Knowledge of the history of the text and the genre
- Knowledge of the subject matter
- Knowledge of related disciplines in Western/contemporary contexts
- Introduction contextualizing the work
- Firm grounding in emic understanding required
- Presentation of etic perspectives OK
Text Critical Issues
- Variant editions/redactions and canonical translations – Knowledge regarding
- Critical editions – Knowledge regarding, and use of (and/or creation of)
- Looking up and documenting all quotes
- Consultation of all relevant Tengyur commentaries
- Reference to indigenous Tibetan commentaries
Editing and Publishing Issues
- Comprehensive editing (importance of editors and/or editorial boards)
- Comprehensive copy–editing (importance of accuracy, consistency, conventions, and readability)
- Formatting and presentation (aesthetic appeal; readability)
- Indexing (importance and utility of this)
- Glossaries, Bibliographies, and other support material (importance and utility of this)
- Printing (hard–copy and/or electronic)
- Distribution and marketing (optimizing visibility/awareness and availability)