Tag: poems

Dear Lovestar,

Poetry is my life!

I’m bilingual and translating even my poetry is tough! But I do my best.

Click on this link to follow my Spanish poetry blog. Most of these poems have been translated from English.

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Why poetry translation is so difficult

Translating poetry can be quite challenging, as it involves not only conveying the literal meaning of the words but also capturing the nuances of the original language, including its rhythm, meter, rhyme, and cultural context.

Additionally, poetry often relies heavily on wordplay, imagery, and symbolism, which may not have direct equivalents in other languages. As a result, translators often face the task of striking a balance between fidelity to the original text and creating poetic work that resonates with readers in the target language.

This is best done by a bilingual poet!

This balancing act can lead to different interpretations and stylistic choices among translators, resulting in slight differences in the translations.

For an example of the slight differences, look at my Italian translated poem.

Tips for poetry translation

Translating poetry is indeed a complex task that requires a deep understanding of both the source language and the target language, as well as a sensitivity to the nuances of poetic expression. Here are some tips for translating poetry:

1. **Understand the Poem:** Before beginning the translation process, carefully read and analyze the poem to understand its themes, imagery, tone, and cultural context. Pay attention to the poet’s use of language, including word choice, rhythm, meter, and rhyme scheme.

2. **Capture the Essence:** Strive to capture the essence and emotional impact of the original poem rather than focusing solely on a literal translation of the words. Consider the poet’s intended meaning and the effect they are trying to achieve with their language.

3. **Maintain the Poetic Form:** Try to preserve the poetic form and structure of the original poem as much as possible in the translation. This includes maintaining rhyme, meter, and rhythm whenever feasible, or finding creative alternatives that capture the musicality of the poem in the target language.

4. **Adapt Cultural References:** Be mindful of cultural references and idiomatic expressions that may not have direct equivalents in the target language. Adapt these references to make them relevant and understandable to readers in the target culture while preserving the intended meaning of the original.

5. **Use Figurative Language:** Pay attention to the poet’s use of figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, and symbolism. Translate these elements thoughtfully, aiming to convey their poetic impact and emotional resonance in the target language.

6. **Seek Feedback:** Once you have completed a draft of your translation, seek feedback from others, such as fellow translators, poets, or native speakers of the target language. Their insights can help you refine your translation and ensure that it effectively captures the spirit of the original poem.

7. **Revise and Refine:** Translation is an iterative process, so be prepared to revise and refine your translation multiple times. Experiment with different word choices, phrasings, and stylistic elements until you are satisfied with the final result.

8. **Read Widely:** Familiarize yourself with a wide range of poetry in both the source and target languages to deepen your understanding of poetic techniques and styles. Reading poetry in translation can also provide valuable insights into the art of translation.

By following these tips and approaches, you can create translations that honor the beauty and artistry of the original poetry while making it accessible to readers in another language.

Poetry translation tools for modern poets (I have used all of these):

1. AI does a way better job than Google translate if you need to translate a poem to or from a language you don’t understand. I used it for translating my poem to Italian, which I dont speak.

2. Rhyming dictionary: I told a friend who writes songs, and he didn’t know it was a thing. Example: search on Google words that rhyme with blue.

3. Google search: Research your grammar if not 100 percent familiar as well as vocabulary that is new. There’s plenty of grammar and linguistic articles I use this trick super often.

4. Synonym dictionary for finding words that mean the same.

5. Antonym dictionary for finding opposite words.

6. Bilingual dictionary

7. Consult literary translations on your chosen languages already available

8. Read poetry in both languages

9. Collaborate and get feedback: I did this when I asked an Italian poet to proofread my AI translated poem, and he made slight edits and confirmed that the AI translation was OK.

10. Follow poets of both languages on social media: I’ll be following Portuguese poets next. Have a tiny exposure to Italian poetry from Twitter. I followed Hindi poets.

With ❤️ & ✨️

Eve, learning Latin through Latin poetry