An An Exploration of Editorial Translation in Spain: interviews with publishing and literary translation professionals

Interviews with publishing and literary translation professionals

Abstract

A fundamental component of the book market is editorial translation, whose professionalization takes root in the 20^th century. Although many of the most widely read titles are translations, the Spanish book market is so unique that only a small percentage of the associated editorial translators can devote themselves entirely to book translation as a professional activity. In addition, students of Translation and Interpreting studies who wish to enter the publishing translation market are often unaware of how it works. To solve this lack, the students themselves, as part of a fieldwork, have interviewed two editors and seven professionals of literary translation. The interviews presented in this work help not only to know certain aspects of the publishing translation market in Spain, but also to clarify some doubts of those translators who intend to carve out a career in it.