Keskustelujen arkisto

The build-up of Erika Fuchs makes the uninitiated think that Carl Barks' work was run-of-the-mill children's comic book fare, and thus belittles it, greatly. Fuchs turned Barks' dialogues into German literature. But, Barks' stories were great, and his contribution to literature shouldn't be ignored. His dialogues were perfect for the English reader whether of American, Canadian, British, Irish, Australian, New Zealander, South African or other English-Speaking experience. It needed no embellishment.

You're right. Carl Barks was a great author, writer and artist. If you can understand English you should always read it's stories in English!
Nevertheless Erika Fuchs did a great translation work. She sold comics to Germany by making great translations which often were not near the original dialogues by Carl Barks. But that made it possible to led the Germans fall in love with comics in a time (the 50s), when a lot of people in Germany thought that comics are trashy literature.

The German tradition of free translations is not limited to Barks, of course. One advantage of this may be that you have a more consistent style of speech in all Duckburg comics.
Interestingly, the editors of the German Donald Duck monthly have recently started to publish new translations of selected Barks stories which aim to stay closer to the original text.
Rob: I fully agree with you.

Interesting article! - So Donald Duck is the Jerry Lewis of Germany, because Jerry Lewis is popular in France (or so the article claims)? What a weird comparison. If you wanted to, you could compare Donald to any popular comedian, but is´nt Donald more than just a comedian? I think he´s much more complex than that.

As for Barks translations, I think they should stick as close as possible to Barks´original texts. Otherwise it´s not Barks anymore but some weird mutant text. Any "improvement" is actually the opposite, I think. It´s a vulgarization of Barks´text, even if you try to make it more high-brow, like Fuchs did. Why not "improve" on Picasso´s paintings or Shakespeare´s plays too?
It´s funny that Fuchs made the translations more "adult" or high-brow quoting German author´s f.ex., when in Denmark the opposite took place. There the translator, Rindom, simplifyed the text instead so it could be read by younger kids too.
If possible, Barks should always be read in English.

Quote from user: BarkoAs for Barks translations, I think they should stick as close as possible to Barks´original texts. Otherwise it´s not Barks anymore but some weird mutant text. Any "improvement" is actually the opposite, I think. It´s a vulgarization of Barks´text, even if you try to make it more high-brow, like Fuchs did. Why not "improve" on Picasso´s paintings or Shakespeare´s plays too?
Often the very close and literal translation actually is not really the best. I can see that sometimes in specialised books translated from English into German where the text often shows clearer than it should that it was translated. What sounds good and fine in the original language can look like a "weird mutant text" when translated indeed literally.

A good translation is in any case one that does not look like a translation; and for a good translator having an excellent knowledge of the language from which he translates is probably only the second important thing compared to having an excellent knowledge of the langue into which he translates.

Speaking of Barks 'n' Fuchs, the lady probably could have done a fine work also if she had sticked a bit closer to the original text. But acting here with a certain freeness was basically a good thing, since the higher "casualness" of the Barks text reflects a general higher casualness and familiarity of the American conversation language compared to German one, I guess. Scrooge simply needed a nice portion of patriarchal stiffness if he wanted to be taken serious here ...

Now we here are all very happy with Fuchs'S more than just a bit free interpretation and Germanisation of Barks. But the hardcore fans have the original texts for comparision and contemplation anyway. Don't be afraid that we do not hear the original master's voice when you watch us building a temple for the Fox Goddess.

Shakespeare become the third "classic" next to Goethe and Schiller in 19th century Germany, by the way, not at least thanks to the classical translation of Schlegel and Tieck.

Improving Picasso? Why not? Barks didn't like that guy's doodle. :D

Quote from user: Gerd SyllwasschyThe German tradition of free translations is not limited to Barks, of course. One advantage of this may be that you have a more consistent style of speech in all Duckburg comics.
Oh, Syll, I can recognize a Syllwasschy translation among thousand others even without the translator's name on it. In every Syllwasschy translation one can fish out lots of words and sayings hardly another translator would use, nice high-brow stuff like "Narretei", you know ... :D

Well, one thing's for sure: Gladstone Gander is the Dean Martin of Calisota.

Quote from user: sirredkneeWell, one thing's for sure: Gladstone Gander is the Dean Martin of Calisota.
Meaning: "He is the 'straight man' to comedian star, Donald?"