The hottest Translation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

The Eternal Midwit

The Lifeboat • 172 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
📚 Literature Fiction Poetry Essays Translation Criticism
  1. Nadezhda Teffi was a popular writer known for her humor and insight, especially in her critiques of society. She gained fame in early 20th century Russia and compared to Chekhov.
  2. The term 'midwit' describes someone who thinks they are smart but lacks true wisdom. They often overanalyze things while missing the bigger picture.
  3. Teffi's writings can help us understand social issues that are still relevant today. Her unique perspective brings humor to serious topics, making them timeless.

Under the microscope: Mobile Suit Gundam

Rings of Saturn • 43 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Gaming Software Translation Game design
  1. A new translation patch for the 1995 game Mobile Suit Gundam has been released, making it easier for players to enjoy the game in English.
  2. There’s a cheat menu in the game that includes useful options like invincibility, stage selection, and movie skipping.
  3. Entering cheat codes in the game can be tricky, but the provided patch simplifies the process and makes it more accessible.

Life And Poetry Of James Clifford

The Lifeboat • 206 implied HN points • 21 May 25
📚 Literature Poetry Biographies Translation History Censorship
  1. James Clifford was an English poet who became famous in the Soviet Union, despite being completely unknown in his own country. His powerful poems resonated with readers in a way that inspired translations and widespread admiration.
  2. Clifford's poetry captured deep truths about life, war, and freedom, which was refreshing for poets like Vladimir Lifshitz, who sought genuine expression in a censored environment. His work often conveyed feelings that many Soviet poets could not express openly.
  3. Despite his tragic death during World War II, Clifford's legacy lived on through Lifshitz's translations, which helped him gain recognition. Over time, he became a literary character in the eyes of some, illustrating the complexities of fame, recognition, and truth in literature.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Mongol Storms and Asian Ruins

The Oswald Spengler Project • 379 implied HN points • 13 May 24
💾 History Translation Civilizations Maps Asia
  1. Spengler's work on Ancient Asia was a significant focus of his, but much of it remains untranslated into English, limiting its accessibility.
  2. Spengler had a deep interest in cartography and envisioned a new approach to universal history through the interaction of civilizations, highlighted in his sketch 'Altasien'.
  3. Spengler's plans for a series of articles on prehistory, including 'Ancient Asia', were cut short by his premature death, leaving many of his works and ideas unfinished.

Processing: How Sam Bett Translated Osamu Dazai

Counter Craft • 265 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
📚 Literature Translation Comedy Writing process Autofiction
  1. Osamu Dazai was a complex Japanese writer known for both his dark themes and comedic elements. His work resonates with many young readers today because it feels relatable and authentic.
  2. Translating comedy is challenging, but understanding the original's voice and humor is key. The translator's job is to recreate that humor in a way that makes sense in the new language.
  3. Dazai's characters openly express their emotions, which is different from many Western depictions of masculinity. This openness allows readers to connect more deeply with the characters' emotional experiences.

Julius Evola's Preface to The Decline of the West

The Oswald Spengler Project • 1078 implied HN points • 12 Aug 23
📚 Literature Theory History Philosophy Translation
  1. Julius Evola's preface reflects on modernity, tradition, and the decline of aristocratic cultures.
  2. Evola critiques Spengler's concept of history as cyclical, emphasizing the idea of 'traditional man' and ahistorical civilizations.
  3. Spengler's work challenges the linear view of history, proposing that civilizations cycle through distinctive phases with unique characteristics and inevitable declines.

ChinAI #250: LLMs summarize China's 2023 in one word

ChinAI Newsletter • 589 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Translation Books Research China
  1. One of the biggest storylines in 2023 was the grim employment outlook for China’s 11.5 million college graduates.
  2. There was interesting variation between Chinese and international large language models when summing up China’s 2023.
  3. Different large language models had varied perspectives on the hot internet events of 2023 in China.

🟧 Book publisher as curator

One Thing • 336 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
📚 Literature Book Publishing Translation Classics
  1. Consider book publisher subscriptions as a way to receive curated reading recommendations and discover new writers.
  2. Independent publishers like Fitzcarraldo Editions, New Directions, and NYRB Classics offer monthly book subscriptions with unique selections and beautifully designed books.
  3. These subscriptions provide access to a diverse array of literature, including obscure classics and contemporary works in different languages, helping readers to explore beyond typical Anglophone literature.

Diary: Maria Stepanova on Nadezhda Mandelstam, Literature and Truth

Book Post • 412 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
📚 Literature Memoir Fiction Poetry Translation Book review
  1. Nadezhda Mandelstam's memoirs led to a significant shift towards nonfiction in contemporary prose.
  2. Authors like Mandelstam faced criticism for not fitting the established narrative, challenging traditional concepts of truth.
  3. Mandelstam's bold and unapologetic writing style defied caution and fear, offering a unique perspective on Soviet life.

a spirituality that transforms

Wellness Wisdom by Patricia Mou • 373 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Transformation Authenticity Translation Enlightenment
  1. Authentic spirituality involves radical transformation and liberation, not just consoling beliefs for the self.
  2. Translation and transformation are two key functions of religion: one creates meanings for the self, the other shatters the self for radical change.
  3. Communicate your authentic spiritual vision with passion and courage to prompt discovery and transformation in others.

Interview with Constantin von Hoffmeister

The Oswald Spengler Project • 559 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
📚 Literature Translation Historical Analysis Cultural criticism
  1. In his translations, Constantin corrected typos in the CFA translation of Spengler's work and kept a meticulous approach to ensure the translations did justice to the original texts.
  2. Spengler's work on 'Early Days of World History' introduces concepts like 'culture-amoebas' and explores the role of myth and religion in early civilizations, providing unique perspectives on the early history of human civilization.
  3. The interest in Spengler's works today is driven by his challenging views on the decline of Western civilization, the rise of authoritarianism, and his literary style that blends history, culture, and philosophy.

Advice to Aspiring Apologists

The Worldview Bulletin Newsletter • 157 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Apologetics Christianity Spiritual growth Literature Translation
  1. Apologetics can help strengthen faith by engaging in debates and seeking evidence.
  2. Starting local, diversifying audiences, and continuous learning are important for aspiring apologists.
  3. Humility, genuine concern to help others understand, and embodying Christianity's principles are crucial for successful apologetics.

The World-as-History

The Oswald Spengler Project • 59 implied HN points • 15 May 24
💾 History Methodology Journal Research Translation
  1. The post discusses the translation of Spengler's works into English, particularly focusing on his intention for the academic journal 'The World as History' and the journal's editor Hans Erich Stier.
  2. The journal 'The World as History' aimed to publish historical research aligned with Spengler's distinct methodology.
  3. The post hints at a possible revolution in cartography, linking to further content on the subject.

ChinAI #253: Tencent Research Institute releases Large Model Security & Ethics Report

ChinAI Newsletter • 117 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Security Ethics Research Translation
  1. The report highlights security assessments for LLMs, such as prompt injection attacks and adversarial examples.
  2. Tencent developed a platform to evaluate large model security, focusing on automated attack sample generation and risk analysis.
  3. The concept of 'Blue Army' drills is discussed as a method to test the effectiveness of large models like Hunyuan.

Huson Soft HuCAL

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Software Gaming History Translation
  1. Hudson Soft was a Japanese company that started as an electronics store and later moved into game development.
  2. Hudson Soft created popular games like Bomberman, Adventure Island, and Bonk for various gaming systems.
  3. HuCAL, a product by Hudson Soft, was initially thought to be a word processor but was actually a spreadsheet used on Sega systems.

H is for Hakluyt

All Visible Objects • 118 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
📚 Literature Authors Analysis Translation Historical context Interpretation
  1. The opening of Moby-Dick references a quote by Hakluyt about the importance of the letter H in the word 'whale,' setting an enigmatic tone for the novel.
  2. Melville's use of the Hakluyt quote without full context led to speculation about its meaning, with scholars exploring poetic interpretations related to breath, spirit, and hidden truths within the text.
  3. Investigating the origins of the Hakluyt quote reveals connections to a chain of translations and criticisms between Arngrímur, Münster, and Hakluyt, shedding light on Melville's intellectual and literary choices.

Beginning the Iliad, Once, Twice, and Again

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 159 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
📚 Literature Analysis Translation Epic poetry Scholarship
  1. The initial lines of the Iliad set the stage for the epic story by invoking themes like rage and heroism, preparing the audience for what's to come.
  2. In addition to the well-known 8 lines, there are shorter alternate beginnings for the Iliad found in manuscript traditions, offering different perspectives to set up the audience for the epic story.
  3. The variations in the beginnings of the Iliad highlight the complexity of the oral tradition, showing how different versions can be equally valid in starting the epic poem.

Two Ways to Decline Zeus

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 99 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
📚 Literature Analysis Translation Myth History Scholarship
  1. Book 5 of the Iliad provides speeches that explore theomachy and the poem's connection to other traditions.
  2. The flexibility of Homeric verse allows for two ways to decline Zeus in metrical shape.
  3. Dione's speech in the Iliad serves as a good example of a paradeigma, using past examples to persuade characters, and can be compared to other epics for structure and content.

UX Roundup: OpenAI Canvas | Evaluating AI Video | AI Podcast | AI Translation | AI Adoption & Retention | Flux 1.1

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 13 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI User Experience Video Generation Podcasting Translation
  1. OpenAI's new feature, Canvas, lets users interact directly with text in a document instead of just chatting. You can now point at specific text and tell the AI exactly how to change it.
  2. Meta has introduced a video generation model called Movie Gen that rates the quality of videos by having people compare them side by side. This helps to figure out which AI creates better videos.
  3. AI is being adopted quickly, with many people using it regularly for tasks at work. It's even being used at a faster rate than the internet was when it first started.

Plan for The Oswald Spengler Project

The Oswald Spengler Project • 179 implied HN points • 30 Jul 22
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Literature Translation History
  1. The Oswald Spengler Project consists of notes, essays, and translations about Oswald Spengler's works.
  2. The project will cover Spengler's published works and delve into historical, cultural, and philosophical topics.
  3. Initial focus will be on notes on Spengler's major works, with plans to later provide translations of his unpublished works.

All the (Epic) Rage: Free Tools for Reading Homer's Iliad

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
📚 Literature Classics Translation Tools Resources
  1. Translations of Homer's work can be creations of their own, offering unique insights and serving different audiences.
  2. Studying and understanding Homeric language and meaning requires repetition, reflection, and discussion with others.
  3. Online tools like the Scaife Viewer and the Homer Multitext Project provide valuable resources for studying Homer's works, offering lexicons, manuscripts, and commentaries.

Polysymphonic

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
📚 Literature Interpretation Translation Mythology Narrative
  1. Metaphors help us better understand complex concepts by providing multiple perspectives.
  2. Interpreting and translating Homer's epic poems is challenging due to their intricate layers of meaning and cultural nuances.
  3. Translators face difficulties in capturing the full essence of Homer's works due to the intricate wordplay and themes that resonate differently in various languages.

The Plan, And Imperfect Translations

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
📚 Literature Translation Epic Mythology
  1. The author plans to focus on the Iliad in upcoming content, offering various types of posts for educators and learners.
  2. The concept of 'The Plan of Zeus' in the Iliad relates to Zeus' grand design unfolding over the story, bringing about pain and conflict.
  3. Thematic words and echoes in early Greek poetry, like the works of Ibykos, highlight recurrent themes such as war and heroism across different genres.

Exploring Whisper's Multitask Interface: A Closer Look at its Speech Transcription and Translation Capabilities

Amgad’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Speech Recognition Translation
  1. Whisper, a versatile AI tool, can transcribe speech accurately in various languages, not just English.
  2. The multitask interface of Whisper guides the decoder to generate desired outputs by using special tokens in the input sequence.
  3. Users can prompt Whisper by adding custom vocabulary and previous predictions to help achieve more accurate transcriptions and translations.

Please stop translating like this

The Leftovers • 119 implied HN points • 24 May 22
📚 Literature Translation
  1. Literature in translation is gaining recognition and praise for the quality of English translations.
  2. Translators play a crucial role in expanding the world of possibilities for readers and making works accessible.
  3. While a translated piece may be an approximation of the original, it still provides value by allowing access to works in different languages.