Free Play

I have read “Spela fritt” by Stephen Nachmanovitch, which is a Swedish translation of Nachmanovitch’s book “Free Play“, and was reminded what is lost in translation.

Even the book’s title, “Spela fritt”, is lost in translation. Play can be translated with spel or lek. So, the title could have been “Leka fritt”, or “Fri Lek”.

However, lek is more like children’s play. It can be perceived as too childish? Hence, the translator’s choice of spela? But I don’t spelar, but leker, when I create my art.

Translation is an art in itself.