Question

4.1.8 quiz: analyze the translation of kafkas the metamorphosis
read this passage:

as gregor samsa one morning from restless dreams
awoke, found he himself in his bed into an enormous
vermin transformed.

— dr. norman prinsky, trans., the metamorphosis
how does the literal, word - for - word translation of the metamorphosis
illustrate the idea that 100 percent accuracy in a translation is difficult to
achieve?

a. it makes the words sound jumbled, and it is not easy to read.

b. it forces the reader to question the reliability of the narrator.

c. it uses words that are no longer used in either german or english.

d. it does not reflect the original ideas kafka had for his short story.

Explanation:

To determine the answer, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The literal translation here has awkward word order ("found he himself... into an enormous vermin transformed"), making it jumbled and hard to read. This shows that a word - for - word (100% accurate) translation is difficult as it sacrifices readability and natural flow.
• Option B: The passage given doesn't relate to the narrator's reliability, so this is incorrect.
• Option C: The words used are still in use (e.g., "vermin", "dreams"), so this is wrong.
• Option D: A literal translation aims to reflect the original ideas, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

A. It makes the words sound jumbled, and it is not easy to read.