Translator Angela Rodel, winner of the prestigious "Booker" prize for the translation of the novel "Vremeubejište" by Georgi Gospodinov, shared in an interview for the show "This Saturday" on bTV that there are still Bulgarian expressions that cause her difficulties when translating into English.
"I can't say categorically which is my favorite Bulgarian word. There are more words from Bulgarian for which I haven't come up with a good translation. For example, the sentence, which is actually from Turkish - „Ay, siktir!". Well, there's no way you can translate it into English and have it be effective. But I keep working," Rodel shared on bTV.
The American from Minneapolis speaks Bulgarian so fluently that she sounds almost like a native, which impresses the viewers of the show. In 2023, she received the international recognition of the "Booker" for her translation of the novel "Time Shelter", with which she put Bulgarian literature on the world map.
During the interview, Rodel also revealed her approach to translating complex literary works. "In my opinion, the reader should have the same emotional experience that a Bulgarian reading the book will feel. This can come from the sonority of the words, the rhythm. There are people who don't have that sonority, but they have some games, references – historical and cultural", explained the translator.
Rodel, who, in addition to being a translator, is also a musician, ethnomusicologist and actress, emphasized that each author represents a unique challenge for the translator with their own specific style and approach to language.
Along with Angela Rodel, journalist and writer Maria Kasimova was also present in the studio, who also shared her favorite Bulgarian word.