Literary translations

“A translation should be like a window pane, completely transparent so that the reader does not notice its existence.”   Nikolai Gogol

“Translation is not a copy, it is an act of creation”. José Ortega y Gasset

Literary translations, unlike other types of secialised translations like egal or medical is art. It is art you should devote yourself to with love and dedication.  What you need here, apart from the translation skills and specialist knowledge, is passion, a talent to dress up in words what often is elusive and intangible. Literary translation, I dare say even more than any other kind, is a creative process. It is immersion into the story, the emotions, the atmosphere of the work that is being translated. A translator is a second author, even a foster parent of the literary work.

“Translations are like women – either beautiful or faithful.” Voltaire

Disputes on what are the limitations to the freedom of a literary translator and how far they may wander off from the source have lasted since the moment when the first literary work was translated into a foreign language.  We do our best to ensure that our literary translations are as beautifu as they are faithful and we devote ourself with passion to the art of translation.

We translate:

• fiction novels for adults and children
• poetry
• non-fiction
• cookery books
• guides
• encyclopaedia
• dictionaries
• various press articles
• other

Media translations

Mass communication has never had such a global reach as today, the age of iPad, social media and multilingual broadcasters. Virtual versions of press articles reach recipients from all around the world, foreign publications are quoted and discussed in media every single day. Their correct translation (and interpretation) is linked to a great deal of responsibility , because even a small mistranslation of an  inconspicuous  nuance of meaning of a word, especially in press texts, may lead to a misunderstanding.  Journalists often try to take shortcuts and use applications like Google Translator which leads to serious errors. That is why press translations requires professionals, certified translators who will take on the full legal liability for the content and form of the text, but also have journalistic and editorial experience which allows them  to efficiently and professionally review and edit the press material in the target language.

That is also why at Co-Star Translation we co-operate with professional journalists and editors who watch every word to ensure the highest quality of the texts, their clarity and correctly conveyed meaning. We have had over 15 years of experience in translating, reviewing and editing press texts of all kinds, from information, through reportages, documentaries, reviews of films, books, cultural events, etc., feature works, guides and interviews (including live interview interpreting).  We have co-operated with such titles as “Maxim”, “Cosmopolitan” or “Entrevue” and an Irish journal “The Evening Herald” to mention just a few of them.  Please, do not hesitate to contact us, if you want your title to join the list.