See how a translator carries a book from one language to another, line by line - NY Times
If someone asked me to describe my relationship to literary translation, my full-time occupation for the last decade, I might call it an ungrudging obsession. It’s often difficult, occasionally all-consuming, but not without its pleasures — some of which are akin to those of the daily crossword.
Much like a crossword, a translation isn’t finished until all the answers are present and correct, with each conditioning the others. But when it comes to literature, there is rarely ever just one solution, and my job is to test as many as possible. A word can be a perfect fit until something I try in the next clause introduces a clumsy repetition or infelicitous echo. Meaning, connotation and subtext all matter, but so does style.
Have a look at the two attempts provided to show the thought processes involved in the kind of translation I do.