I can best understand the translation process when I imagine the similar relationship between instruments, a composition and a music performance. The author “plays” her composition on her instrument, such as a violin. The translator comes in with his instrument, perhaps a flute, and begins to try his hand at the same piece of music. He could be a genius with perfect pitch and able to conjure up astonishingly beautiful tones with his silver flute – or something completely different. The result depends on the quality of the instruments and of the composition, on the sensitivity of the translator‘s ear for the interplay of the instruments as well as on his comprehension of the obvious and hidden tendencies in the composition. This comparison not only helps me understand the differences in quality between the original and the resulting work, but also the legitimacy of different interpretations.
Translated into English by Lynnette Polcyn
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This description of the translation process describes very well how I feel myself when I translate. I have always made comparison between music and languages as the tuning is rather similar.