I disagree. I translate on the sly and though I'm still not very good at it yet, I've realized how important word and phrasal choices are to make a piece of work flow well in its newly adopted language and admire all the unsung translating meisters who managed to do just that. It takes time and skill that again takes time to hone.
A few words and phrases can mean the same but they all have totally different effects on the audience. Why are some works as nice to read/listen to in their translated form as they are in their original? And why aren't some? By saying what you did, you're discounting the hard work a lot of translators, professional or no, went through to bring you a flowing piece of work that doesn't make you cringe in parts (sometimes you don't even know you're doing it). It's really subtle but it makes all the difference.
Language is a very subtle but powerful tool when it comes to communication. Being able to translate well is, in itself, an art.
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A few words and phrases can mean the same but they all have totally different effects on the audience. Why are some works as nice to read/listen to in their translated form as they are in their original? And why aren't some? By saying what you did, you're discounting the hard work a lot of translators, professional or no, went through to bring you a flowing piece of work that doesn't make you cringe in parts (sometimes you don't even know you're doing it). It's really subtle but it makes all the difference.
Language is a very subtle but powerful tool when it comes to communication. Being able to translate well is, in itself, an art.