Giannis Michailidis

Hello, Mr. Michailidis.

Hello.

We’re glad you are with us for this very nice interview. Let’s get started. We have some questions for you. Was it a lifelong dream to be involved in translation?

No. I’m involved in translation only part-time. It wasn’t my dream. I translate comics, so I do it more for fun.

And how did you get involved in translating comics?

 I’ve always liked them, from a young age, they entertained me. I always enjoy translating comics.

And what gives you the most joy when you’re translating?

I enjoy rendering the text and the fact that I discover things given by the image many times rather than the discourse.

What are your motives when you are translating?

My motives are definitely not financial, because this field is not very popular and you are not paid much. I rather do it purely for pleasure.

In that regard, besides translating, you’ve also written a comic, as far as I know.

No, I write comic reviews.

So you are involved in this field.

I write forewords in books, in comic books.

What elements, in your opinion, distinguish a good translator?

In comics, right? You have to get into the role of the character you are translating. So the rendering of the role, of the character or characters in a comic, in a story, is, I think, the most important thing.

Does the layout play an important role in the translation of comics?

It has its own rules, which you have to respect as a translator, yes.

As a translator, what is your relationship with comic book writers?

A personal relationship… I know several of them. Usually, by translating someone’s work you develop a different relationship with them. That is, you are their second voice, their secret voice maybe.

How does this affect your translation? Has it helped you? Does it limit you maybe?

If I know them personally, it is easier. If I don’t know them personally, I must read about them, study them, study other works of them, that is, I try to enter their creative spirit, both the visual and the verbal.

Great. What are the pragmatic elements in comics that aren’t translated?

In what sense? Let me see… What elements could these be…? What isn’t translated? You can find difficulty in translating humor or specific lines. Other than that, I think everything can be translated.

What is your relationship with the languages you translate from? What is your relationship with Italian?

It is a relationship of love, but also of survival, because I work, I teach. Yes.

What role does the social and cultural field of our country play in the translation of comics? What is the background in our country?

I think the Greeks don’t read comics so much compared to other peoples in other countries, such as the French, the Italians, the Americans. I think we read comics less. We generally don’t read a lot of books, so we don’t read comics either. In recent years, however, there has been a greater interest in this issue.

Do you consider translation editing necessary?

Yes, a second pair of eyes is definitely always useful.

How about copyright in comics?

Translator’s copyright?

Yes.

Very few things apply. Very few things, because publishing houses don’t… Especially those who publish comic books are not in very good financial condition, so there is difficulty in this matter. But I do it out of pleasure anyway.

However, are you optimistic about the future of translation in Greece?

Translation in general? As far as I know, because I don’t know the field very well, there are many problems. Let’s hope things get better. And things only get better when people read and are interested, so publishing houses sell, and when they sell, they can pay the translators and be consistent in every aspect.

And a closing interview question. Will you give us some tips for someone who is just starting their career as a translator?

Translation is a wonderful journey, but it requires a lot of searching. Who are you translating, what are you translating, how should you translate it?

Great. Thank you.

I thank you very much, too.