Nothing Really Mattress: Kafka, Camus, and the Importance of Translation

#1: Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.

• Diction (connotation/denotation): The use of the word "changed" rather than "transformed" makes the reader consider the transition less bizarre. The word "change" is used so commonly, such as "changing one's clothes", that in this context it doesn't strike the reader as marking a major shift. 
• Syntax: The sentence is very straightforward, making the reader accept the absurdity of what is being said without questioning it. The reader accepts what is narrated because it is stated rather than exclaimed. 
• Imagery/details: The description of the insect form of Gregory as a "giant bug" is simple in detail, making it less dramatic because it doesn't conjure up a startling image in the mind of the reader. Giant is not as powerful as a descriptor because the reader still pictures insect Gregory as being the size of a normal bug, just a large one.
• Structure: The sentence's straightforwardness is established by the lack of commas; it's just one continuous thought to get the information across. 

#2: When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug

• Diction (connotation/denotation): The translator's use of the word "troubled" conveys to the reader that the transformation into an insect could be interpreted as a continuation of the dreams Gregor was having. Similarly, the use of the word "transformed" conveys the peculiarity of the shift from human to insect by highlighting that it was no small ordeal, but rather a complete alteration of identity. 
• Syntax: The sentence sets up the reader for something to occur by beginning with "when". From reading the first word the reader is anticipating a sort of pivotal moment, which is found at the end of the sentence when it is revealed that a major transformation has occurred. 
• Imagery/details: The image conjured in one's mind from the description of "enormous" is that of a human-sized bug. Personally, I picture the size of the insects from the movie James and the Giant Peach because those are not only bigger than normal, but actually enormous when compared with a human. This description of Gregor as a bug communicates to the reader that it's a noticeable transformation. 
• Structure: The The flow established from the lack of commas removes a sense of anticipation that may have been established otherwise, as there is no pause in the reader to discover what will change about Gregor. 

#3: As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

• Diction (connotation/denotation): The use of the word "uneasy" conveys to the reader that Gregor was uncomfortable or anxious during a period typically characterized as being peaceful. This single word suggests that Gregor was aware of his transformation to a certain extent, likely on the subconscious level. The use of the word "gigantic" recasts the reader's mental image of the insect Gregor by emphasizing the strangeness of the situation, as he wasn't transformed into a regularly sized bug. The word "insect" holds a connotation of being repulsive (at least for me), which also contributes to the reader's adjusted feeling towards Gregor the bug. 
• Syntax: By beginning the sentence with the word "as", the reader is expecting that something significant will happen to Gregor once he wakes up. By beginning the sentence in this manner, the reader is more aware of a significant occurrence to happen than they would be otherwise. 
• Imagery/details: The use of the word "gigantic" is similar to that of "enormous" in that it creates an image of a human-sized bug in the reader's mind. It is also similar in that it conveys to the reader that the transformation is something that Gregor will not be able to cover, as he is larger than normal. 
• Structure: Similar to the previous two translations, the sentence is one continuous statement that lacks any breaks or pauses. By beginning the sentence with "as", the reader has been introduced to a sense of anticipation that is relieved by the lack of pauses in the sentence. The lack of commas allows for the reader to be informed of the conclusion of the sentence quickly, which reduces the sense of anticipation that would have been present if commas were used. 
• Other stylistic/figurative elements: The use of the word gigantic could be perceived as hyperbole because the reader doesn't know whether the author wants to conjure an image of a bug that is human sized or larger. The reader may assume that the author chose the word simply to mean exceptionally large, but doesn't know whether to interpret it as that or as truly being massive.

#4: One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin. 

• Diction (connotation/denotation): The word "agitated" conveys to the reader that not only was Gregor restless, but he was also disturbed in his sleep. The word "monstrous" has a disturbing connotation and contributes to the reader's view of the bug version of Gregor as being disgusting. Rather than the reader being sympathetic towards Gregor after the transformation, they instead feel a sense of revulsion. The word "vermin" has a negative connotation as well, as its actual definition is "disgusting animals". The word used to describe the insect form of Gregor by definition is meant to portray him as nasty. 
• Syntax: By beginning the sentence with "one morning", the reader is instantly made aware that what appears to be a typical day will be altered by an unexpected occurrence. This is further emphasized by the rest of the sentence, as the comment on Gregor having had "agitated dreams" foreshadows that something disruptive will occur but still withholds from displaying the extent to which that event will cause disorder. By ending the sentence with "monstrous vermin", the reader understands what the disruptive event was. 
• Imagery/details: The word "vermin" conjures an image of a repulsive creature, specifically some creepy crawler. The image aroused is undesirable, contributing to a reader's feeling of antipathy rather than sympathy for Gregor. 
• Structure: The several commas break up the flow of the sentence, making the reader distracted in discovering that the purpose of the sentence is to state that Gregor has transformed. The use of pauses adds to the suspense of what is going to be said and intentionally accentuates what is said at the end of the sentence. 

The translations are all similar in that they get the point of a major transformation across to the audience, however, they each differ in their influence on the audience's perception of Gregor. The differing words used to describe Gregor's insect form (big, enormous, gigantic, and monstrous) each hold their own connotation and imagery that have arouse different reactions from the reader. While one translation of Gregor as now being a "giant bug" may come across as shocking and could arouse sympathy to a certain extent, the description of his transformation into a "monstrous vermin" arouses a feeling of revulsion in the reader. The translations are all similar in communicating Gregor's transformation, but the word choices utilized in doing so create different experiences for the reader.

The translators' structural and syntax decisions contribute to the pace at which the reader is informed of Gregor's transition, which also affects their reaction of the change. The translations that are one long sentence lacking pauses lack the suspense that the fourth translation creates by including several commas. The sentences that don't have commas are quicker in revealing the transformation to the audience, which may make the description of Gregor as an insect less unsettling. However, the translation that contains several breaks in the description is the same that uses the "monstrous vermin" description, and the commas only emphasize the description which makes the whole sentence all the more disturbing to the reader. This fourth translation is the most effective in conveying the significance of Gregor's transformation to the audience because of the suspense-arousing effect of the structure as well as the images conjured from the translator's word choices.

This exercise displays the struggle of losing or altering the original meaning through translation. While the major plot points will still be communicated to the reader, the differing words used to communicate the plot will alter their reaction and mood towards what is being said. A single word can alter an individual's feeling towards a person/object, so the translation of an entire text risks losing part of the original author's intended purpose. Translations also risk altering the tone of the text, as a word in one language might not have a translation that holds the same meaning or arouses the same emotion. The point that an author is trying to get across sometimes requires specific wording, and some words or phrases may be unique to one language and lose their effect once translated.