Between Words
In this Library Chat, Mexican author Laia Jufresa and translator Daniel Levin Becker explore the intricacies of writing and self-translation. They discuss Laia’s unique process of writing in English and Spanish, how self-translation has shaped her voice, and the challenges and freedoms involved in translating one’s own work. They reflect on language, creativity, and the nuanced relationship between author and translator, highlighting how constraints and imperfection fuel invention. The dialogue also touches on the limits of machine translation and the deeply human aspects of capturing tone and meaning across languages. In 2024-25, Daniel was an Institute Fellow.
Laia Jufresa is a Mexican literary author based in Edinburgh, UK. She’s been named as one of the best authors of Latin America. She works in English and Spanish and has written for the BBC, Netflix, El País, McSweeney’s…
Daniel Levin Becker is a writer, editor, and translator based in Paris. He has been a member of the literary collective Oulipo since 2009. He is the author of Many Subtle Channels: In Praise of Potential Literature (2012) and What’s Good: Notes on Rap and Language (2022) and the translator of books by authors including, most recently, Jakuta Alikavazovic, Éric Chevillard, and Laurent Mauvignier. In 2024-25, Daniel was an Institute Fellow.
