Question

Why do translators find Kafka's The Metamorphosis difficult to translate?

A. The short story has already been translated a number of times.
B. A lot of Kafka's original words are open to multiple interpretations.
C. Most translators find the subject matter boring.
D. Kafka left clear instructions on how he wanted his work translated.

Answer 1

The answer to this question is B: A lot of Kafka's original words are open to multiple interpretations.

Answer 2

The correct answer is: B) A lot of Kafka's original words are open to multiple interpretations.

When translating from one language to another, sometimes words can't be substituted in a very precise way as they mean different things in the original language. Sometimes the words translated can't capture the right tone, the right mood or the right cultural reference. The transaltor then, has to make a choice between a lot of things, for example alliteration or word choice. In the case of "The Metamorphosis", a lot of Kafka's words can mean different things in English and translators have had a lot of trouble making those choices. Since the first sentence thay have had problems. It states that the principal character wakes up being a kind of giant bug but it can also be a cockroach, an insect or a vermin.