CAT 2017 Slot 1 — VARC Question 26
The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the author’s position.
A translator of literary works needs a secure hold upon the two languages involved, supported by a good measure of familiarity with the two cultures. For and Indian translating works in an Indian language into English, finding satisfactory equivalents in a generalized western culture of practices and symbols in the original would be less difficult than gaining fluent control of contemporary English. When a westerner works on texts in Indian languages the interpretation of cultural elements will be the major challenge, rather than control over the grammar and essential vocabulary of the language concerned. It is much easier to remedy lapses in language in a text translated into English, than flaws of content. Since it is easier for an Indian to learn the English language than it is for a Briton or American to comprehend Indian culture, translations of Indian texts is better left to Indians.
Answer & solution
Correct answer: Indian translators should translate Indian texts into English as their work is less likely to pose cultural problems which are harder to address than the quality of language.
- A
While translating, the Indian and the westerner face the same challenges but they have different skill profile and the former has the advantage.
- B
As preserving cultural meanings is the essence of literary translation Indians’ knowledge of the local culture outweighs the initial disadvantage of lower fluency in English.
Indian translators should translate Indian texts into English as their work is less likely to pose cultural problems which are harder to address than the quality of language.
- D
Westerners might be good at gaining reasonable fluency in new languages, but as understanding the culture reflected in literature is crucial, Indians remain better placed.
Easy
Para-summary: the passage builds to a recommendation. A translator needs both languages and both cultures; for Indian texts, an Indian’s gap (English fluency) is easier to fix than a Westerner’s gap (understanding Indian culture), because language lapses are more remediable than flaws of content. Conclusion: Indians should translate Indian texts. The correct summary must carry that final verdict, not just the supporting logic.
Option 1 — eliminate. Too vague: “same challenges … different skill profile … the former has the advantage” loses the specifics (culture vs language, what is harder to remedy) and never states the recommendation.
Option 2 — eliminate. It captures the reasoning (cultural meaning outweighs lower English fluency) but stops short of the author’s actual stand — that Indians should do the translating. A summary of this passage must include the conclusion.
Option 3 — correct. “Indian translators should translate Indian texts into English as their work is less likely to pose cultural problems, which are harder to address than the quality of language” states both the recommendation and its core justification (cultural flaws > language flaws). Complete and faithful.
Option 4 — eliminate. It comments on language-learning ability in general and that Indians are “better placed”, but omits literary translation as the subject and never delivers the prescriptive conclusion as cleanly; weaker than Option 3.
The summary that best captures the author’s position is Option 3: Indians should translate Indian texts because cultural problems are harder to remedy than language quality.
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