Any literary translation is a compromise between two goals that cannot

Question

Any literary translation is a compromise between two goals that cannot be entirely reconciled: faithfulness to the meaning of the text and faithfulness to the original author's style. Thus, even the most skillful translation will be at best a flawed approximation of the original work.

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning in the argument above?

(A) A translation of a literary work should be entirely faithful to neither the meaning of the text nor the original author's style.

(B) If a literary translation is flawed as an approximation of the original work, it cannot be regarded as a successful compromise between faithfulness to the meaning of the text and faithfulness to the original author's style.

(C) The most skillful literary translation of a work will not necessarily be the most balanced compromise between faithfulness to the meaning of the text and faithfulness to the original author's style.

(D) Any translation that is not entirely faithful to both the meaning of the text and the original author's style will be at best a flawed approximation of that work.

(E) Not even the most skillful literary translation could be faithful to both the literal meaning of the text and the original author's style.

sk5499461 · Answer

I clicked the wrong 'E' option, but I want to know how to choose between 'E' and 'D' as option D is almost the reiteration done from the passage. Please help me understand the reasoning behind 'D'.

gmatophobia · Answer

Hello Experts,

Can you please help me understand the reasoning for the correct answer. I selected E as I felt that the reasoning justifies the argument , "even the most skillful translation will be at best flawed".

I understand that E merely states what's already stated, however I was not able to infer how D fits into the argument.

Tagging a few experts  GMATNinja   avigutman , however anyone is welcome to provide an input.

Thanks !

avigutman · Answer

I absolutely do NOT recommend using LSAT problems to prep for the GMAT,  gmatophobia . I concede that Logical Reasoning and Critical Reasoning appear very similar, but they are different in important ways, and there are more than enough OG CR problems to practice from.
Having said that, the difference between D and E is as follows:
E is something that can be inferred from the premise, whereas D is an assumption that the argument requires. So, if the argument wasn't an argument, but instead we were just provided the first sentence, and then the question stem had asked "if the statement above is true, which of the following must be true?" you should pick E.
Why does the argument require D? Because we weren't given any information about what causes a literary translation to "be at best a flawed approximation of the original work." Answer choice D provides that missing connection between the premise and the conclusion.

VidishaBanerjee · Answer

Anyone please reply why not B here ??

Posted from my mobile device

unraveled · Answer

VidishaBanerjee

If in passage the situation is "Ïf A then B" then in B, its like "If B then A" at least somewhat. 
By the way what is meant by 'successful'. It gives another perspective that is not true or desirable.

HTHs

jim441 · Answer

I choose E. Please share you insight as to why D is right.
I have read some comments in this thread but none have satisfied me.

Thanks

wadhwakaran · Answer

E says faithful to the literal meaning of the text. However, the question stem says the meaning of the text. 
Additionally, the author of any text sometimes use the word in other ways such as sarcastically, ironically. Maybe this is why option E is wrong.
Even i chose E over D but later on saw this difference.
Experts may shed light on this.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Any literary translation is a compromise between two goals that cannot

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Any literary translation is a compromise between two goals that cannot

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