Translation is often mistaken for a simple exchange of words between languages. But it’s not that straightforward. In truth, translation is a subtle, intricate craft that blends precision with creativity. One of my favourite metaphors to illustrate this comes from Miguel de Cervantes, who compared translation to viewing the back of a tapestry.
While Cervantes was referring to Greek and Latin, the image applies beautifully to translation in general. From the front, a tapestry presents a smooth, polished picture. Flip it over, though, and you’ll find a tangle of threads, loops, and knots; the unseen work that holds the design together. Translation follows a similar path: the final text may read smoothly, but beneath the surface lie countless decisions about meaning, tone, and cultural context, all carefully woven together.