For readers who speak multiple languages, but not the original language of the work in question, how do you go about picking the best translation?
For example, I’d like to pick up Virgil’s Aeneid, but my Latin is not good enough to allow me to sight read it. I can choose between any of the Italian, French or English translations, but I’m not sure which one to pick?
I thought that in this case the Italian one might be the best as it would be “closer” to the original Latin? But how much value should I put on the authorial input/style of the translators themelves?
I usually pick English translations, but I’m now wondering whether I’ve been missing out on some great translations.
It depends. Availability, (my) fluency, quality, age (of both the translation and the original) are all factors. All these being equal I would choose the language closest to the original. For example, a Korean novel translated into Chinese or English, I would probably choose Chinese, as the two languages/cultures have some overlap, and are easier to translate between, especially when it comes to cultural concepts/idioms etc.
For the most part I choose English, though as it’s my native language, and is usually easier to find.