The Translator Conceit

[davem]

Originally Posted by Saurreg

In this case, would the copy not deviate more from the original works in terms of sensation and theme, ending up being more impersonal than before?

Well, its difficult to say how much the version we have has 'deviated' from the original, because we don't have the original to compare it to. What we have is a work at the end of a very long line of copies & translations.

We might also want to ask how much 'Tolkien the translator' (ie the character within the secondary world version of the primary world) was like Professor Tolkien himself - can we assume he was as skilled & consciencious, or even as talented, as his real world alter ego?