A Shoutout for Lim Woan Wen
You’ve heard from Lim Woan Wen here at A Polite Lie during the period of her apprenticeship through SALT. As her time in the apprenticeship draws to a close, I want to shine a little spotlight on some of the things she has achieved during the learning process.
A capable translator becomes a literary translator
Woan Wen came into SALT as a capable translator. Through the course of her apprenticeship, she became a literary translator who understands that it is the literary aspects of her practice that must lead her work in translation. When she began, Woan Wen had a background in very literary work, but she had not quite learned to put it all together in a way that allowed it to lead her translation work. Her development in this area is one of the most satisfying experiences I’ve had as a mentor of literary translators. She was completely on board with the goals of the apprenticeship, and it really shows in the quality of her work. I am completely confident that Woan Wen is ready to make her mark on the field of literary translation, and I am very excited about what might come next for her – I can hardly wait to see it!
Converting experience in another field of the arts and applying it to translation
In our first discussion together, Woan Wen heard something I said and immediately linked it to her own experience in lighting design in the theatre. After more discussion and thought, she came to see how her work in lighting design offered a unique perspective that could inform her translation practice. She embraced that and ran with it, and I believe that laid the groundwork for her success in SALT.
A pursuit of every endeavour with an open mind and great curiosity
Another secret to Woan Wen’s success in SALT was her pursuit of every endeavour with an open mind and with great curiosity. Though she was clearly gifted in working with the exchange of languages that has shaped her life, she did not take that gift as a license to sit back and wait for things to happen for her, nor did she take for granted that it meant she has the answers to the various issues that might pop up as she worked. Instead, she allowed her view of the craft of translation to be challenged on every level, and she was always willing to try new things (which were not always comfortable) with enthusiasm. In doing so, she has reshaped her mindset about translation, and that is what has set her up for great success in the field.
An ability to speak eloquently about the processes involved in literary translation
In our early discussions, I noticed that Woan Wen can speak very meaningfully not just about the nuts and bolts of translation or the products of her efforts; she is also very skilled in talking about the process and mindsets involved in her craft. She analyses what she is doing and why, and she is very skilled in observing the effects of the what/how and in communicating that. I have met many very experienced translators who are not able to communicate these aspects of their craft effectively to anyone who is not already on the inside. Woan Wen possesses that skill, which is why I set her the task of writing articles for this newsletter (links to her articles below, in case you missed them). I am hopeful that she will eventually grow into a role that allows her to train literary translators who come after her, because I think she will really do that well.
An outstanding team player
Woan Wen has proven herself to be an outstanding team player. She has worked with other former apprentices and students of mine in an effort to refine their craft together, and the results have been amazing. Watching her in this process has only solidified my earlier observation that she communicates so effectively about the work of translation, and it has been a real pleasure to see her interact with her peers and watch them grow together.
I’m very pleased that Woan Wen has completed her apprenticeship so successfully, and I am looking forward to seeing her take on more work in literary translation in the future. She is truly an asset to the industry, and I am grateful to have had the chance to work with her during her time as a SALT apprentice.
©2023 Shelly Bryant
Learn more about the Singapore Apprenticeship in Literary Translation here.
You can see Woan Wen’s musings during the course of her apprenticeship here:
From Page to the Stage, and Back to the Page