I have always enjoyed reading and recently started buying and reading books again after a break. I purchased books in both English and my native language (translated versions), but I am feeling somewhat conflicted about it. On one hand, I want my library to be consistent, and I think buying and reading books only in their original language would achieve that. On the other hand, I sometimes think, “Who cares? It doesn’t matter in what language I read books, as long as they are true to the original, and I enjoy the process.” Nevertheless, I need some opinions. What languages do you prefer? The original or the translated versions? Do you have books in multiple languages? Does the language in which you read a book make a difference?
Original hands down. Especially when it comes to Japanese literature. Akutagawa’s writings in translated form are no good but you can see by how he writes that he’s awesome.
The language you can read is the best one for reading books.
Usually the original language, but lately I have noticed that the book feels much more personal when it is in my mother tongue. So now I decide based on my mood.
Assuming you understand the original and have fluency enough to read it…
I do both. Usually depending on the author: I tried Pratchett in English and it was too much I was missing many plots, HP Lovecraft in English is too barroque for my taste (don’t know why sounds better in Spanish). In on other cases it just depends on which lenguage I started reading the author…
I gave up on Pratchett in English as well. Since fantasy often incorporates old words and subjects rarely used in modern language as well as made up things and creatures, I found myself constantly guessing whether an unknown word was a word I simply didn’t know or if it was a word I wasn’t supposed to know, because the author invented it.
Maybe I should give it a try again, it’s been many years. Maybe my English has gotten better. Or my knowledge of historical items…😁
Honestly Dostoevsky writing is not very good as far as Russian language goes. But I absolutely would read Russian literature in original.
“Compared to Tolstoy’s rich and flamboyant prose, some of Dostoevsky’s works really do look weak stylistically. Sometimes his novels even contained sloppy mistakes. For instance, in Crime and Punishment he once mentioned “a round table of oval shape.”
Doesn’t matter. Whatever you enjoy more. Whatever suits your purpose more.
I read in English for International books because the translations for most books are good. I doubt I’ll get a good translation for my native language.
For authors in my native language, I read what I get my hands on. Ideally my native language, the expression is better preserved.
I guess the original is better if your level of language is high enough to not be too mentally exhausting. Sometimes, I just want to give my brain a break and read stuff in my native language even though I know the language of the original.
Def original but only if you are sufficiently proficient in the language to grasp the nuances .
Oh man I am absolutely an advocate on always consuming media in the originally made language. I have read books in English and my own native language and often discovered so many nuances being lost, or things that doesn’t exist in the mentality or ‘inside humor’ of a country being completely lost in translation.
I know that I am weird in that regard though. I mean, the translated versions will get the stories and messages across just the same. If you come to adore a movie/tv series/book then I advice you to work through the original version as well. I’ll guarantee you there will be details you haven’t gotten in the translated version.
I speak 4 languages fluently. I buy most of my books in english. but if the original book is either in Dutch. French or German, I’ll buy that version.
I got separate bookshelves for those languages.
If it’s a language I know, I read the original. If it’s a language I’m not fluent in, I usually go for English translations (not my native language) because it’s easier to find a good translation in it. Although there were times when translations to my native language turned out to be way better, because it’s also a widely spoken language with a pretty well developed culture of translations and literature in general.
And I wouldn’t say you always need to be super fluent to read in a non-native language. If I didn’t start reading in English I wouldn’t know it fluently.
The original. You will still miss much of what the author meant; but in translation, you won’t even be ABLE to catch those hints and nuances that mean so much to original speakers of the language. Those hints and nuances will leave without a trace.
I am literate in Japanese (L2) and English (Native), and I will almost always read a Japanese book in Japanese even if there is an English translation. The only exceptions are for translations that have significant scholarship/discourse around them.
On the other hand, I do like to read Japanese translations of works that were originally written in English, but not for first-reads. It’s super-interesting to me to see what kinds of choices the Japanese translators made.
Ultimately, read whatever and in whatever language you think is interesting!
Objectively if you can read a book in its original language, it is better to do so.
First, because no translation can reproduce all the meanings and nuances of the original. And second because of the sounds themselves of a language. It is especially obvious with poetry but prose too has rhythms and cadences that are near impossible to translate.
Then there are translations that are literary works on their own, and are well worth reading. Many others may not reach the same level but they do a very good job.
Ofc your level of proficiency in the language plays a role. If going through a page is a struggle, probably the translation is the better choice. But if you are already a pretty advanced user of the language, reading a lot in that language is one of the best ways to push yourself, broadening your vocabulary and your feeling for the language.
I wouldn’t put so much pressure on remaining consistent. I actually think it’s kinda nice to have a mix of languages represented on your bookshelf. Generally, I prefer reading a book in its original language if I’m able to because things can get lost in translation (literally) and it improves your skills in that language. However, you do need more than just a little knowledge of that language for it to be enjoyable and some books are difficult to read even for native speakers, so it might make sense to grab a translation for those books or for people who are only just starting to learn a new language. There’s not shame in sticking to translations, even if you could technically read the original!
I agree with the you that says “Who cares?” about consistency.