james_davis_nicoll | An interesting question

Claire asked Ann Leckie:
Hello. I wondered if you were aware of the fact that in the french translation of Ancillary, Breq is male ?

The perils of translation? I'm sure that French texts can do neat things with grammar that just don't work in translation to English, either. 8/

In Italian, there's a saying "Traduttore, traditore" - "To translate is to betray."

I find that super ironic. For Reasons.

I had heard it as "Il traduttore, il traditore", that is, "The translator, a traitor." De gustibus, etc.

(Also, not related to much of anything except general translation coolness, a great interview with William Weaver, translator for Umberto Eco and Italo Calvino among others.)

"Il traduttore,
Don't spit on the stor-ay,
Use the feminina,
That'sa what it's for-ay."