Books Messageboard: Re: I have the translation by H.M. Parshley and it's great. by RugbyPlayingAshaman

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Re: I have the translation by H.M. Parshley and it's great. RugbyPlayingAshaman Send a noteboard - 04/03/2010 11:12:09 AM

It's a great translation, with clear dialogue and it gets the idea across really well. It is so good, actually, that I never bothered to research alternate translations!

The problem is that it does not get the finer points across well, if at all; and indeed it turns some of the central points topsy-turvy by presenting de Beauvoir as an essentialist. So while it may be fun to read, it really does not work as a translation of a work of philosophy.

After reading this translation, I did not have an image of her as an essentialist at all. I thought most of the finer points were well communicated, but I am not a philosopher, and have studied aspects of evolutionary theory moreso than rhetorical discussions so to me, it made perfect sense and didn't confuse me at all.

Do you have an example of how this book fails to get a finer point across?

"Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness."

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/Review: Another bad English translation of The Second Sex Camilla - 02/03/2010 01:41:11 PM 813 Views

Yikes. One does wonder why they couldn't afford a more experienced translator. Legolas - 02/03/2010 03:42:57 PM 606 Views

I don't think it is a matter of not being able to afford one Camilla - 02/03/2010 03:59:21 PM 625 Views

Re: The Second Sex is such tedious language wrapped around some rather interesting ideas. Danae al'Thor - 03/03/2010 12:07:43 PM 619 Views

Sounds like that might be the translator's fault. Read it in French?

*NM* Legolas - 03/03/2010 12:27:03 PM 245 Views

I have the translation by H.M. Parshley and it's great. RugbyPlayingAshaman - 03/03/2010 02:56:24 PM 593 Views

Re: I have the translation by H.M. Parshley and it's great. Camilla - 03/03/2010 03:43:34 PM 562 Views

Re: I have the translation by H.M. Parshley and it's great. RugbyPlayingAshaman - 04/03/2010 11:12:09 AM 615 Views

Re: I have the translation by H.M. Parshley and it's great. Camilla - 04/03/2010 12:36:11 PM 618 Views

I just read it - thanks for pointing it out. I don't think I can agree with the critique, though. RugbyPlayingAshaman - 04/03/2010 03:30:36 PM 675 Views

Yeah, I got that one too. Good enough for me, I guess. *NM* AgentOrange - 04/03/2010 10:53:17 PM 289 Views

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<quote id="85991"><quote id="85674"><quote id="85651">It's a great translation, with clear dialogue and it gets the idea across really well. It is so good, actually, that I never bothered to research alternate translations!</quote></quote>

<quote id="85991">The problem is that it does not get the finer points across well, if at all; and indeed it turns some of the central points topsy-turvy by presenting de Beauvoir as an essentialist. So while it may be fun to read, it really does not work as a translation of a work of philosophy.</quote></quote>

<quote id="85991">After reading this translation, I did not have an image of her as an essentialist at all. I thought most of the finer points were well communicated, but I am not a philosopher, and have studied aspects of evolutionary theory moreso than rhetorical discussions so to me, it made perfect sense and didn't confuse me at all.</quote>

<quote id="85991">Do you have an example of how this book fails to get a finer point across?</quote>

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