How to Translate Books and Master Multilingual Writing

Translation and multilingual writing are more than just linguistic exercises - they are bridges to understanding, preserving cultural identity, and creating art that resonates across borders. In a recent discussion between celebrated Dominican writers Cla Nera and Erica Mario, their exploration of translation, storytelling, and cultural nuance revealed profound insights into the transformative power of language. In this article, we dive into the key themes of their conversation, offering a deep understanding of their approaches to literature, translation, and multilingual expression.

The Intersection of Writing, Photography, and Translation

Erica Mario, both a writer and photographer, shared how her dual creative paths have shaped her approach to storytelling. Photography, she explained, was her initial gateway into creative expression, serving as a medium for introspection and documenting life’s complexities. However, Erica soon realized the limitations of images alone in conveying her family’s history and personal narratives.

She described how becoming a single mother in her early twenties inspired her to use photography as a rebellion against being defined solely by her new role. As she documented her life, her interest in pairing images with text grew, driven by a desire to add depth and context to her visual storytelling. This experimentation eventually led Erica to translate literature - a process she finds deeply tied to modes of communication and storytelling.

Key to her approach is the idea that her fractured background in different creative fields enriches her work. Whether translating or writing, Erica’s varied experiences in sociology, photography, and visual storytelling allow her to bring fresh perspectives to language and character development.

The Emotional Challenge of Translating Cla Nera’s Work

One major theme of the conversation was Erica’s experience translating Cla Nera’s novel, The Grand Paloma Resort. The novel, anchored in the history and culture of the Dominican Republic, required a delicate balancing act between preserving the characters’ Dominican identity and making their voices accessible to a Spanish-speaking audience.

Erica highlighted the importance of understanding not just the literal meaning of the text but also the cultural and emotional nuances behind it. For instance, she described how she had to modulate the characters' "Dominicanness" based on context. When the characters spoke to peers, their language was rich with authenticity and colloquialism, but when interacting with resort guests or superiors, their tone reflected the polished servitude often expected in Caribbean tourist economies.

Cla praised Erica’s translation, emphasizing how it captured the poetic sensibilities, humor, and cultural intricacies she herself wished she could convey in Spanish. As Cla noted, growing up in the United States from the age of ten had shaped her linguistic relationship with Spanish, making it challenging for her to write with the same depth and cultural precision in her mother tongue.

Erica’s thoughtful approach not only honored the original work but also allowed it to shine in its translated form - a testament to the nuanced artistry involved in literary translation.

The Power of Multilingual Writing

Both authors reflected on the unique challenges and opportunities that come with multilingual writing. Cla, who writes primarily in English, shared how language choice often carries deep personal and cultural significance. For her, English became the language of possibility and forward movement after immigrating to the United States, while Spanish remained tied to her past and family history.

Erica, too, noted how language is shaped by personal experiences. Writing in English, for her, feels like inhabiting a new world, while Spanish anchors her to her roots. This duality creates fertile ground for exploring the complexities of identity, history, and cultural inheritance.

A particularly interesting aspect of the discussion was their shared interest in exposing the fractures inherent in language. They both resist the idea that mastery of a single language is the ultimate goal of a writer. Instead, they embrace the cracks, imperfections, and in-between spaces that multilingualism creates, using them as tools to enrich their storytelling.

Literature as a Tool for Cultural Reflection

Cla and Erica’s conversation also delved into the relationship between literature and broader cultural narratives. Both writers are deeply influenced by the history of the Dominican Republic, particularly its legacy of racial and linguistic tensions. Cla’s novel, for example, subtly addresses the parsley massacre of 1937, wherein language became a deadly marker of identity.

Erica discussed how Dominican women, in particular, carry the weight of the country’s history - a legacy of dictatorship, misogyny, and resilience. Translating The Grand Paloma Resort required her to capture these complex dynamics, from the hardened exterior of older female characters shaped by societal expectations to the rebellious spirit of younger women seeking to break free from cultural constraints.

Their dialogue underscored how literature, whether in its original language or translation, serves as a reflection of societal truths. By telling stories rooted in the Dominican experience, both writers contribute to a richer understanding of their culture and its complexities.

The Future of Multilingual and Image-Text Storytelling

Erica’s creative journey has evolved significantly. She revealed that while her earlier works combined photography and text, she is now drawn to exploring fiction without the use of images. Inspired by her love for brevity and poetry, she aims to craft narratives that deliver powerful emotions and ideas with minimalistic elegance.

Cla, meanwhile, expressed excitement over Erica’s experiments with fiction, noting how narrative form allows writers to imagine new possibilities and transcend personal experiences. Both authors emphasized the importance of embracing creative experimentation, whether through translation, hybrid storytelling, or transitioning between genres.

Key Takeaways

Translation as Art: Translating literature is not merely linguistic - it is an empathetic and creative process that involves preserving cultural nuances and emotional depth.
Multilingual Expression: Writing and translating in multiple languages expose the fractures and tensions inherent in language, enriching storytelling.
Cultural Context Matters: Understanding the historical and societal backdrop of a story is crucial for accurate and meaningful translation.
Literature Reflects Identity: Both Cla and Erica emphasize how their Dominican heritage shapes their writing, highlighting themes of resilience, family, and cultural history.
Hybrid Storytelling: Erica’s background in photography and text illustrates how combining mediums can create layered narratives, though writers should remain open to evolving their craft.
Language as Possibility: For many multilingual writers, language choice reflects more than practicality; it signifies identity, belonging, and aspiration.
Women and History: Dominican women, shaped by a history of oppression and resilience, are central to both Cla’s and Erica’s works, offering powerful insights into gender and cultural dynamics.

Conclusion

The conversation between Cla Nera and Erica Mario reveals the profound impact of multilingual writing and translation on storytelling. Both authors exemplify how literature can be a tool for exploring identity, preserving cultural heritage, and navigating the fractures of language. Their work not only enriches our understanding of the Dominican experience but also invites us to think more deeply about the transformative power of words.

Whether through translation, fiction, or hybrid forms, Cla and Erica remind us of the boundless possibilities of storytelling in connecting people across languages and cultures. For anyone passionate about the art of literature and the nuances of language, their insights are both inspiring and deeply thought-provoking.

Source: "Episode 62: Multilingual Writing" - watchung booksellers, YouTube, Feb 3, 2026 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lLzXn3bq2k