AmericanPapist Comments
Hey, don't be so hard on those translators. When I heard the speech live, I was glad I wasn't going to have to translate it and I have some understanding of German.
I happen to be working on a translation which is way overdue. Translators are oftentimes plagued with a lack of concentration like other writers.
Maybe our Holy Father needs a new laptop for Christmas :o)
Yes, but most every other international body has figured out how to provide timely translations of key documents to its members. It's hardly an insurmountable problem.
Not only is it not insurmountbale, the persistent failure to provide consistent, reliable, and timely transaltion of MAJOR communications says something about the perceived (un)importance of those language groups.
Yes, translation is extremely difficult. After all, it must be accurate and at the same time as easily readable as the original. Ours is tough work.
But I seem to recall reading the Spanish version of the Regensburg address almost immediately--with the same caveat as the English version, i.e. a definitive copy, with foot notes, will appear sometime in the near future. Why that took 43 days is anyone's guess.
However, my biggest concern is not how long it takes for a translation to be produced, but how do we make it available to the general public. Those of us who read this and other blogs will search for it because we are interested. But what about those who only hear whatever the newscast offers and not trouble themselves with finding out what the Holy Father really said? What can be done to make it available?
Commenting by HaloScan
