from Vol. #8, Issue 2: Summer 2017
Translator's Note
by Timothy DeMarco

to accompany his translation from German of "Please Do Not Disturb, I Am Currently Experiencing a Sleep Revolution" by Thorsten Nagelschmidt

Some of the things I am most passionate about are literature, traveling, the German language and culture, and punk rock. So when I decided to actually try my hand at translating for real, after translating as a hobby for several years, I figured why not start with a story about traveling, written by the front man of my favorite German punk band?

The idea of translating a story about the pleasures, excitements, challenges and difficulties of traveling piqued my interest to begin with. Traveling itself can lead to misunderstandings, often as a result of intentions and expressions getting lost in translation, pun intended. But what makes this piece so unique is that it chronicles an experience the author had in his own country, not abroad. To add to that, that the author is traveling with someone from outside his country, the Scottish author John Niven.

Furthermore, translation of a literary work itself often grapples with the translation of cultural peculiarities. In this particular story, the author, a German, is forced to explain to his guest, a Scotsman, the behaviors and attitudes of German service industry workers, in this case, a man of Iranian descent. The combination of three different nationalities coming together in a confusing situation, all as a result of a misunderstanding, makes for a great read.

In terms of my translation of the text, the emotions experienced-anger, outrage, embarrassment, regret and remorse, to name a few-provided an exciting challenge to me, since words themselves each carry their own unique worth and weight.

Just as the three main figures in the story navigate through cultural differences, the author and I worked together to ensure none of the linguistic nuances of the story were lost in translation. Though I translated the work, the final product is the result of transatlantic teamwork.

In addition to my interest in translation, I am also excited to enable John Niven to read this story. After all, he was involved in its making, so to speak, but has yet to read the story in print. In fact, when I met with Nagelschmidt in Berlin last summer, he expressed his dismay that, despite doing several reading tours with authors such as Niven, Irvine Welsh and David F. Ross, these writers have never gotten the chance to read his own work. I am hoping to change that, story by story.

- TD

>> read the English translation
>> read the German source text

Thorsten Nagelschmidt, better known as Nagel, is an author, musician, and artist. He grew up in Munster and lives in Berlin and Hamburg. Until 2009, he was the singer, lyricist and guitarist of the band Muff Potter, releasing seven albums and playing more than 600 shows all over Europe. His debut novel, Wo die wilden Maden graben, was published in 2007. His second novel, Was kostet die Welt, was published by Heyne in 2010 and a musical version of the novel was released on the label Audiolith. An English translation is currently in the works. Nagel has had numerous exhibitions of his linoleum print series Raucher (Smokers), and a new novel is in the works. Online at his offical website and on Facebook and Twitter.

About the translator: Tim DeMarco received his bachelor's degree in German from Georgetown University and his master's degree in German Language and Literature from Middlebury College. He has lived, worked and studied in Tübingen, Dresden and Mainz. He currently lives at the Jersey Shore where he teaches German at a high school and a university. His translations have been published by Your Impossible Voice and Comteq Publishing. Connect with him online at www.timdemarco.com.

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