On June 10, Bruno Arpaia and Marco Ottaiano, protagonists at the Instituto Cervantes in Naples, of the meeting “Saying almost the same thing. The profession of translation”.
Bruno Arpaia guest of the Instituto Cervantes of Naples, Wednesday 10 June at 16 pm. “Saying almost the same thing. The profession of translation” is the title of the virtual meeting – open to the public of the network – between the writer, journalist and translator from Vesuvius and the Spanish scholar Marco Ottaiano, professor at the University of Naples “L'Orientale”.
After the meetings with the writer and director David Trueba, the Castilian chef Juan Carlos Benito and the founder of Sur, Marco Cassini, the online cycle promoted by the institute directed by Ferran Ferrando Melià dedicates this new appointment to the fascinating world of translation. The free event will be held via the Zoom platform and to access it you must request the link and password at the email address: cultnap@cervantes.es.
A keen connoisseur of Spanish and Latin American literature, Bruno Arpaia combines his work as a novelist and essayist with that of a translator. In fact, he edited the Meridiani Mondadori dedicated to Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Mario Vargas Llosa and translated numerous works by Spanish and Latin American authors for the Guanda publishing house, such as Carlos Ruiz Zafón, José Ortega y Gasset, Camilo José Cela and Paco Ignacio Taibo II.
A successful writer, he has published several books translated into numerous languages, receiving prestigious awards and recognitions. In 1990 his first novel, “I foreignieri”, was published, winner of the Premio Bagutta Opera Prima. Among other publications: “Il futuro in punta di piedi”, “Tempo perde”, “L'angelo della storia” (Premio Selezione Campiello 2001), “Il passato davanti a noi” (Premio Napoli and Premio Comisso), “L'energia del vuoto” (finalist for the Premio Strega 2011 and winner of the Premio Merck Serono), “La cultura si mangia!” (with Pietro Greco, 2013), “L'avventura di scrivere romanzo” (with Javier Cercas), “Prima della battaglia”, “Qualcosa, là fuori”, as well as a conversation with Luis Sepúlveda, “Raccontare, resistere”. “Il fantasma dei fatti” is the title of his latest novel published this year by Guanda.
“The translator's role is complex, a difficult job but at the same time very beautiful,” Arpaia emphasizes. “Translators not only transfer a text from one language to another, but they also become cultural mediators, true tools for understanding different worlds, identities, traditions and communities. For the translator, translating means being humble and respectful of other people's writing and, at the same time, free in lexical choices. Through translation, one learns to curb one's own 'ego' and not to overestimate oneself. The problem with this job is that it does not enjoy the same importance throughout the world and in Italy, for example, it continues to be a profession that is not recognized and valued as it deserves.”
For information: Instituto Cervantes tel. 081 195 63311 cultnap@cervantes.es.
Article published on 8 June 2020 - 17:07
