The second event titled “Interviews with Translators” was organized by the English Translation and Interpreting Department of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. At the event, where Dr. Mert Akcanbaş, Lecturer in Psychology and Director of 'AİLEMER' at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, participated as a speaker, “The Importance of Culture in Translation” was discussed, and Akcanbaş stated that it is important to convey what the book makes one feel in translation.
The moderation of the event was carried out by Assoc. Dr. Feride Zeynep Güder from the English Translation and Interpreting Department of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
“I Considered Translating the Quran a Duty”
Dr. Mert Akcanbaş, Lecturer in Psychology and Director of 'AİLEMER' at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, spoke about his translation of the Quran into English.
Akcanbaş said: “In Turkey, religious figures explain religion by using fear, through elements like hell. Some, however, explain it by using influence, through beauty; Yaşar Nuri Öztürk is one of them. I went to Yaşar Hodja’s house during Ramadan for the Quran translation. While discussing how we would do it and how long it would take, I said I would finish it in a month. Yaşar Nuri Öztürk is such a meticulous person that we finished it in a total of one and a half years, working eight hours every day. Yaşar Hodja asked how much money I wanted; I didn't ask for money for this work. But I learned the philosophy of the Quran from Yaşar Hodja for one and a half years, and that is more valuable to me. Normally, my area of interest is not religions, but I considered the translation of the Quran a duty. My aim was to serve the Quran, and I did. Most translators translate the Quran according to their own customs and traditions. I translated it in a way that Westerners would understand, putting my own customs and traditions aside. My advantage is that I spent a long time in the USA. I understand well how they think.”
“The Book Described Turks as Cancer, Enveloping Europe”
Speaking about the books he translated into Turkish, Akcanbaş continued his speech as follows: “When translating the book ‘The Crescent and the Iron Cross’, I struggled a lot. It described Turks as cancer, enveloping Europe like cancer, but reading that book is important to understand the ideas and thoughts of a certain segment in Europe. The book ‘Instrumental’ is my best and favorite translation. The book had an angry tone. When I spoke to the author, I heard him speak with hatred too. He recounted the sexual abuses he suffered until the age of eighteen with such anger and hatred that I also wrote the translation in the same tone. I also have my students read this book. The book has such an effect that when reading it, it’s necessary to translate it as if the author is speaking. My duty is to convey what the book makes one feel. When you translate for foreigners, you will make a translation in such a way that when a foreigner reads it, they will truly feel that a Turk is speaking.” he stated.