Languages are deeply connected with culture and time, and with a few limitations, English can be considered the language of global capitalism and Anglo-American imperialism, says one of the most recognizable translators of South Slavic literature in the world in an interview with Vijesti. Vil Go ahead (Will Firth).
On the other hand, he believes, there is an essential closeness between the "internationalist" language Esperanto and the liberation aspirations of socialist movements.
Firth began his journey with a brief membership in the Communist Party of Australia. Describing the Communist Party of Australia in the early '80s, he says that by then it was no longer strictly Stalinist and exuded respect for all things Soviet and Russian.
"That fascinated me, so I enrolled in Russian in addition to German at university. A little later, I also added the Serbo-Croatian language as a secondary subject, because it was clear to me that this language would be useful if I wanted to get a job as an interpreter in healthcare, the judiciary or similar. Using Russian as a 'springboard' for learning other Slavic languages is a widespread practice in the world. With the help of Russian and Serbo-Croatian, I then started to learn Macedonian as well, self-taught", explains Firt and adds that he sees his role in preserving the language in promoting South Slavic literature and advocating for multilingualism at the international level.
He further reveals what it is like to translate South Slavic literature, and how Slavic languages sound to English speakers. He talks about the authors of our region, Montenegrin contemporary literature and language trends in the world.
"Since they don't have many points of contact, I would argue that Slovenian languages mostly sound exotic and strange to native English speakers - somewhat hard, maybe even threatening because of the many shrill consonants. Of course, I overcame that phase and fell in love with everything. My favorite sounds are Slovenian - like a refreshing chattering stream, and Czech - like a benevolent strict aunt. Those are my completely subjective associations!" says Firt, who recently had his literary evening in Podgorica, organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro.
How was the interest in the South Slavic group of languages born and what was the process of learning them like?
Believe it or not, my impetus came from a brief membership of the Communist Party of Australia in the early 1980s. Although the party was no longer strictly Stalinist at that time, it exuded respect for everything Soviet and Russian. That fascinated me, so I enrolled in Russian in addition to German at university. A little later, I added the Serbo-Croatian language as a secondary subject, because it was clear to me that this language would be useful if I wanted to get a job as an interpreter in healthcare, the judiciary or similar. Using Russian as a "springboard" for learning other Slovenian languages is a widespread practice in the world. With the help of Russian and Serbo-Croatian, I then started to learn Macedonian as well, self-taught.
How demanding is translation and is there anything in particular that must be taken into account when translating from these languages? What does that one process look like?
I love my profession, I found myself in it, but it is also very demanding. Maybe I love that daily struggle with words and their meanings. I don't really think much about the translation process. It is partly mechanical, especially with prose, partly more inspirational, for example when I translate poetry. The best solutions can come late at night, after a glass of beer, or even in sleep. The process varies from genre to genre, from book to book.
It is somewhat easier for me to translate from German because of the linguistic and cultural similarities with English, and I notice that maybe half of the phraseological units have a related counterpart in another language, while when I translate from your languages, there is much more to think about. In addition, you have complexities due to verb form (perfective/imperfect verbs) and lack of articles. The latter creates countless small dilemmas that are usually resolved by looking at the context. Full concentration is required, so no sleeping at work!
How do you see South Slavic literature then and now and does it have any general characteristics? Which writers would you single out as particularly important?
I would say that in recent decades, some writers have been classified according to national canons, both old and newly defined, while another part of authors write supranationally. That is the most striking to me. Magical realism used to be in fashion, and today I see similar "crazy" playfulness in many authors. But the differences between them outweigh the general characteristics, and I focus on the individual works I translate anyway.
I'm not a comparatist, so it's hard for me to single out particularly important authors convincingly. Come on, I'll try: I can think of Miroslav Krleža and Miloš Crnjanski, each of whom I've translated one major work, as well as Ivo Andrić, Danilo Kiš, Borislav Pekić and Dubravka Ugrešić, who have mostly already been translated by my older colleagues.
My favorite sounds are Slovenian - like a refreshing chattering stream, and Czech - like some benevolent strict aunt. These are my completely subjective associations
You are also familiar with Montenegrin contemporary literature. What are our literary voices and which Montenegrin authors would you single out?
For me, Montenegrin recent literature still defies definition. The characteristics and strengths of individual authors are more noticeable than any real or imagined collective identity. It would be unfair for me to postulate a common stylistic or thematic basis. In addition, like each of us, I have my blind spots. I admit that I read a little Njegosha, say, and from Mirko Kovača not a word.
Your literary voices, which I have helped and am still helping to get out into the Anglosphere Stefan Bošković, Pavle Goranović, Andrej Nikolaidis (4 Roman!), Slavica Perović, Milovan Radojević, Ognjen Spahić i Tijana Rakočević - these are the authors from whom I have translated a novel or other voluminous work so far. And if the authors of individual short stories and poems, passages and "demo" translations need to be listed, the list will be filled with names Aleksandar Bečanović, Balša Brković, Aleksandar Ćuković, Ilija Đurović, Svetlana Kalezić Radonjić, Dragana Kršenković Brković, Brano Mandić, Slađana Kavarić Mandić, deceased Boslijka Pušić, Dragan Radulović, Lena Ruth Stefanović, Jovanka Vukanović, Sonja Živaljević i Tijana Živaljević (I hope I haven't forgotten anyone). Literary voices are different and each one stands out in its own special quality way.
Would you single out some Montenegrin authors in translation whose books you enjoyed and which you personally like to read?
There are not many Montenegrin authors in translation. Recently, short stories have particularly impressed me Svetlana Kalezić Radonjić, which are mostly still untranslated.
How do you see the group of languages we call Montenegrin, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian? There is often talk about a common language area, but those languages were subject to various political manipulations, were used in a nationalist spirit, both in the past and today. How do you comment on that?
For me, there is a common, four-name language. If we call the language spoken by the majority in Great Britain, the USA, Australia and a dozen other countries around the planet English, it is ridiculous to me, from my outside perspective, to call variants of your language by different names. Okay, I know it has a tradition. Misuse of language in a nationalist spirit and manipulation of the population using language is unfortunately a worldwide problem.
What is the relationship between language, politics, culture and nation?
They are inter-conditioned beyond recognition. It's an important topic, but I don't deal with theory or journalism on that topic. It should.
Is and to what extent is it necessary to know the spirit, mentality and culture of the people and the area from which the author originates for translation?
Of course. It is very important. However, it is also important for the translator to preserve his impressions, his own interpretation of a work, and his independent way of retelling in his own language.
For me, Montenegrin recent literature still defies definition. The characteristics and strengths of individual authors are more noticeable than any real or imagined collective identity. It would be unfair for me to postulate a common stylistic or thematic basis. That said, like all of us, I have my blind spots. I admit that I read a little of Njegoš, let's say, and not a word of Mirko Kovač
You are also an Esperantist. Sometimes it sounds quite abstract. Can you bring Esperanto closer to the readers and why it is important, what is the symbolism of that universal language?
"The main symbol of Esperanto is a green five-pointed star". Pogodili ste? "Glavni simbol Esperanto je zelena petokrakak zvijedas".
Esperanto is a planned language that was created in 1887 with the aim of being a universal second language for everyone. It has a dictionary fund based mainly on Roman roots and grammar almost without exception, and during its existence and use it developed and continues to develop a unique international culture. There are between half a million and two million speakers ("Esperantists") in the world, depending on the estimate. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the labor movement in many countries discovered that Esperanto can be used to communicate with ordinary people who do not have access to quality education and the opportunity to learn foreign languages. Thus, there is an essential closeness between the "internationalist" language Esperanto and the liberation aspirations of socialist movements. I have experienced this bond in trade union practice and I am convinced that it is a great thing.
Some ignorant people believe that Esperanto is an "unnatural" creation, so it must be a soulless and poor phenomenon. It's not. The fact is that Esperanto has its own literature and even some of its own customs. It has a living history in the Balkans as well, and in Croatia, Esperanto is officially recognized as a protected cultural asset.
Today we notice that knowing and speaking English is practically taken for granted. Also, quite often some words and phrases from that language are adapted and taken over in others. How do you see this trend in the era of globalism and cosmopolitanism?
Very critical. With a few limitations, we can consider English as the language of global capitalism and Anglo-American imperialism. It is not a neutral means of communication and it is not easy to learn, especially compared to Esperanto! This "cosmopolitanism" is only apparent, because it is not based on the equality of languages and peoples, but hegemony - cultural supremacy established by bloody conquests. This is clearly demonstrated by the practical invisibility of South Slavic literature and other cultural "products" in the Anglosphere. Real multiculturalism rests on understanding and respecting diversity.
I love the English language, because it is my mother tongue, and I, like many others, use it for business, but it would be wrong to ignore its role - and the role of the forces behind it - in today's world.
What is the future of languages from small speaking areas or the languages of those nations that are slowly disappearing? In this context, how is language preserved?
I'm afraid the future isn't very bright. More languages disappear every year, along with their often unexplored and unshared cultural riches. How is language preserved? That is the question is all of us. For some, it may be nurturing awareness of the beauty of one's native language and its heritage, for others, practicing bilingualism in multi-ethnic families, and for others, perhaps with some influence in society, providing language services for minorities, migrants, and the like. I see my personal contribution as promoting literature from your region and advocating for multilingualism at the international level, which for me includes the use of auxiliary languages such as Esperanto.
Would you like to add something?
I'm just honored that you invited me for an interview. Many thanks!
Bonus video:
