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Miroslav Zelinský is anotherTrojica AIRresident.
Literarytheorist and historianMiroslav Zelinský (1961) is not only an expert but also a translator and promoter of literature in the Czech Republic. He studied Czech Language and History, and workedat the Institute for Czech Literature AVČR inPrague. He teaches 20th-century Czech literature, literature and Literary Criticism, and he collaborates with literary magazines and broadcasting.
Thanks to him, many books were published in Czech translation, e.g.Pes na ceste/ Dog on the Road andPríbeh ozajského človeka / The Story of a True Man byʲվDZý, Holá veta o láske/ A Simple Sentence on Love byٳšٳš,ԲҾDZá's novelBarbora, boch a katarzia/ Barbora, God and Catharsis,andselected fiction byVíťoStaviarsky titledLoli paradička. During his stay at theTROJICA AIR residency, he is translatingPeterŠulej's novelfٴDZ貹DzԳٴDZó/ phytopaleontology.During his residency, Zelinsky, togetherwithIvana Gibová talked at an event organizedby theCap à l’Est literary festivalabout the relationship between thetranslator and the translated writer. His video diary from last year is availabale on ourchannel. We now offer a short interview with him about hiscurrent residency.
In what way can the bookphytopaleontologybe interesting for Czech readers?
PeterŠulej'sphytopaleontology is aunique text, both thematically and linguistucally. It enters the context of dystopian writing, which hasits readership within Czech literature. Even though it presents the third installment of a loosely tied trilogy, it can stand on its own, too, and perhaps it could bring Czech readers to look for what precededphytopaleontology.
What poses the biggest challenge within this particular translation?
When it comes to language, the biggest translational challenge is the way the artificial intelligence-- one of the novel's main characters -- talks. Peter is also an important poet. Years ago, I prepared a show for Radio Vltava that featured his poetry. And even though he uses exact, technicallanguage, it is still poetry, and each word requires special attention while at the sime time the whole context needs to be kept in mind.It is the same thing with his fiction. His conscious, complexthinking about the text as a whole does not allow any easy reliefs in translation.
Do you communicate with the authors whose books you are translating? What is your relationship to Peter Šulej in particular?
An author always has certain expectations about how his book is supposed to be even in a foreign language. Czech is a language that is very close to . I try not to need the author, and to approach him only when it comes to specific terminology and context. Aside from that, Peter and I are friendly with each other and we enjoy each opportunity to meet.
How do you find the residency? Does it suit your work?
The Štiavnica residency is absolutely great. Being undisturbedand in the inspiring setting of the historical town makes meconcentrate and work hard. It's every translator's dream.
What else are you working on these days?
I have mostly been busy with phytopaleontology, but since AntonHykischarrived,we were able to talk about his most recent novel and I made some preparations for the translation, too. I am very grateful for this opportunity.
(The first two photographs are from the Cap à l’Est festival;the thirdis author's own,"from an Oldcastle shot by an unknown Japanese tourist.")
