FdE Writer Series — P. Louise Johnson
P. LOUISE JOHNSON — Our new Writer Series asks our writers a few questions about their careers, working process, highs and lows and one or two other things - we hope you enjoy this little insight into the people behind our wonderful books.
1. How did you get into translating?
Translation has been part of my language learning since I was a child. Literary translation - albeit involving quite short extracts - was a staple of my very traditional University modern foreign languages course, and it was notable that my grades for my Spanish to English versions were generally worse than for English to Spanish (or French, etc.)! But translation in order to be read and translation for language-learning purposes are different kettles of fish. The first full-length literary translation I started is still unfinished, and I suspect it'll remain so! It's awful... but looking back, it taught me a lot, and was a necessary stepping stone. Other short stories (for example) that I translated weren't published because the proposed edition foundered. That was a shame, but I still got to do the actual translation practice.
I've taught (literary) translation at University level, and we tend to start at the micro-level and move up/out. That's great for learning technique and describing problem-solving strategies, but when you're working with a much more substantial text, and translating for an external audience, the game changes - at least it does for me. You also have to become much more pragmatic... but I'm straying from the question!
2. Any highs or lows of your translation career so far?
I'm not sure I have a career! but I'm very glad for any opportunity to get deep, down and dirty with language, because it's invigorating, mentally stimulating, and when it goes well, immensely satisfying. It can also be hugely frustrating in a bang-head-on-the-wall kind of way, and it's always a great leveller, it provides perspective - on the way that other people use language as much as anything, because we differ so much, within a language as well as between languages. But to be specific: translation always takes longer than you think it will, and this is a truth I seem incapable of taking on board. So having to be realistic about what you can do before a deadline (or a thrice-extended deadline) is tough, because you want things to be perfect, or at least the best possible you can do, and there's no such thing as a perfect translation. There are so many possible readings of an original text (readers bring their own baggage to the text), different approaches to any given translation which will prioritise different features, and any number of readings of the final translation. To try to communicate successfully in that context can seem a very tall order, particularly with a novella such as Ruth. On a very personal note, I was attempting to work on Ruth in the evenings while nursing my late Mum. It gave me another focus. Not sure that's a high note or a low note...
3. Which author(s) is/are on your dream translation wish list?
I don't have a wish list, and honestly I have no idea as to who I'd want on there. I don't get time to read much outside of my teaching and research. I'll need to think about this...
4. Please tell us about your translation process: do you listen to anything while you work? If so, what? And where do you most like to translate?
I've experimented with background noise, and any kind of spoken word is really unhelpful. It may ease me through blocks occasionally, but the gym does that too, and is preferable! Occasionally something baroque, but otherwise focussed bursts in silence. As to location: pretty much anywhere that isn't sat on a bed with the laptop on my knees! I need a desk or a table of some description.
5. Any peeves about the publishing industry? Anything you would change?
Not really so far; I'm generally just very happy to be involved.
6. Three songs that sum you up?
Existentially or at the moment of writing?! In no particular order: The Chemical Brothers, 'Go!'; Blue Wonder Power Milk, 'Dictionary'; The Kinks, 'Big Sky'
7. What draws you to Viladot's work?
His curiosity and questioning; his sense of fun (more evident elsewhere perhaps); his humility and love of people; his rootedness.
P. Louise Johnson is the translator of ANDREA VÍCTRIX and RUTH
