When the English-language translation of Yang Shuang-zi's novel "Taiwan Travelogue" won both the International Booker Prize and the US National Book Award for Translated Literature, it was a historic moment for Taiwanese literature brought about by the deft hand of translator Lin King. King was credited with a masterful achievement in presenting a work of great cultural complexity to foreign readers.
But behind the book's success was a difficult personal journey. King spent months unpaid pitching to publishers and fighting to keep her name on the cover along with the author. Today, as generative AI tools emerge to produce accurate translations in seconds, the human craft of literary translation faces an unprecedented moment. Many now ask what becomes of cultural intuition, nuance and artistic voice in the automated age.
In this episode, hosts Dena and Howard sit down with Lin King to learn about her award-winning translation process, exploring the grittier side of the profession and how translators are navigating the future in real time.
28:36
28:51
27:51
29:45
27:42
27:52
26:07
29:01