Eros in two languages
How do you interpret Spanish eroticism to Filipino, without losing its taste and context, despite translators being called traitors?
“If we are to follow the classic definition of translation, I may be trying to defend a lost cause since at the onset, you have already branded me as a traitor. Translation may be seen as a particular form of writing since the translator as a writer is bound to the limits of his original text and yet is expected to transmit certain eloquence in the target language and audience,” says Marlon James Sales, who translated the Spanish classic “Cronica del Rey Pasmado” by renowned author Gonzalo Torrente Ballester to “Ang Kwento ng Haring Tulala”, which was launched recently.
Although fiction, the novel is based on the character of King Philip IV, who ruled Spain in 1621 until 1665. It revolves around the King’s obsession for seeing his queen in the flesh but is suppressed by the strict court and church rules. He then tries to assuage his sexual urges by visiting Marfisa, the Spanish court’s most renowned prostitute. The King’s pursuit of his worldly pleasure created a furor among his people as they thought it would bring their downfall.
The title refers to the amazed expression of the King after his encounter with the naked Marfisa. It also includes lampoons of the traditions of the Spanish high society.
The art of translating erotica
Aside from extensive research about the author, the story, and its historical context, the biggest challenge was to make eroticism palatable and accessible to the Filipino audience, especially to the contemporary readers.
“How on earth can a Filipino translator make dar el gatillazo or premature ejaculation and the limping of the penis an acceptable and ironic comical literary device to illustrate the penis’ frustration as a lover and as a leader?” Sales asks.
According to him, it’s either you go very vulgar or use cutesy euphemism. The Spanish language, Sales says, has a plethora of sex-related words while we have limited translations of them. But never mind, he suggests to invent and create words that will still be faithful to the tone of the original text.
Then, there is the audience to consider. The Spanish 1989 novel was written with humor and lightness, and so was the rendition. Sales says he does not want his translation to be too deep or too academic; rather, relatable to anyone.
Beyond Erotic
But beyond the storyline of one man’s urges, the novel tries to break down the political ideas during the Spanish Inquisition.
And though written in the ‘80s, the novel remains to be a relevant critique of today’s society, where when we scrap all the fictional factors (Spanish kingdom, 17th century setting, desire of the King to love his wife in the manner he chooses, war), we shall see and relate with the same power struggles, intolerant morality, desire for self-fulfillment, ambition, and money acquisition that the country, Spain, and the rest of the world share.
“It will be a great disservice to the genius of Gonzalo Torente Ballester if our reading of this novel will remain at the level of the erotic, the mundane, the comical, since the story is also a story of our collective ineptness, inaction, and incredulity. “Ang Kwento ng Haring Tulala” ay kwento mo at kwento ko, kwento ito ng pagkatulala nating lahat,” he says.
Sales is a translator, researcher, and professor of Spanish. “Ang Kwento ng Haring Tulala” is published by Cacho Publishing House.
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