Register now or log in to join your professional community.
If we speak about translation of an Arabic poem into English, I find it very interesting. Poetic translation requires rich background in the source language. Simply, understanding meaning of the poem to be translated accomplish50 % of the job. I think the opposite applies to those with English as their mother tounge when they translate into Arabic. E.g it is difficult to translate:
وطاوي ثلاث عاصب البطن مرمل ببيداء لم يعرف بها ساكن رسما
فخرت نحوص ذات جحش سمينة
unless you already know the poet's cultural and echological background.
The method i consider to be the most appropriate is teh Phonemic translation.Phonemic translation attempts to recreate the sounds of the source language (SL) in the target language (TL). And at the same time the translator tries to transfer the meaning. According to Lafevere, in general the result sounds awkward and sometimes leaves some parts of the original meaning behind. Other Methods:literal translation, metrical translation, verse-to-prose translation, rhymed translation, free verse translation, and interpretation.
My dear Samar, it is not easy to translate a poem but it can be the most beautifull thing to do in translation job (in my opinion) :)
Read and read the poem, understand it, study it, try to read behind the words and know more about the poem's circumstances, read about the poet and his life.
You should be very creative also to choose the words of your translation, especially the rythmic part. The beauty of a poem remains in its meaning, so stay strict to the original idea of the text.
Needless to say, that you cannot put your personality, but only think that other people in another culture should read your translation and the goal is to let them appreciate these verses.
It is fine the final translation is a prose rather than a poem. In my opinion that the "feeling" that is expressed in a poem should remain in the translation.
I wish you all the best, thanks for asking,
Eslam
there are some rules to respect when you translate a poem
honestly I've translated some poems small and it was difficult because there are strict rules more than normal translator
1. Stay Close to the Poem. Read the poem again and again until the words become second nature on your tongue. By doing this, you will be able to feel the rhythm of the poem. You will recognize the pace, the pauses, the beats, the swirls of energy. Write the poem in longhand and make ten copies. Stick these where you can see and read them. Try the bathroom, the kitchen cabinet, or the freezer door, leading to the Ben & Jerry's. These copies will familiarize you with the poem's grammatical structure: Where the adjectives are, where there is a break in tenses. Plus, if you put them on that package of Oreo's, it'll take you longer to gobble the bag down. You will have to read the poem first!
2. Know the poet. If you are lucky enough to pick a living poet to translate, write to him or her. Get to know the person; ask him or her questions about the poem. What was the poet thinking when writing the poem? What does the poet think the poem means? Is there any imagery or language that is repeated? Is there anything symbolic from his or her life? What does the poet think of poetry? The more you know about the poet and his or her life, the better able you are to understand the nuances of the poem. Be courteous and grateful. The poet is answering your questions to help you with your translation.
If, however, you choose a poet who has passed on, your job is a little harder. Try and find out as much as you can about the poet's life. Most countries have national writer's associations. If they don't, check the web and university libraries and language departments. Maybe from there you can find other people who knew the poet or can help guide you. Build as many contacts as you can. Be familiar with the poet and you will get a sense for the poem.
3. Go for Grace. When you translate a poem, your job is to stay as close to the meaning as possible. That said, you also have artistic license to use (not abuse) the meaning to make a clear and graceful translation. Translating slag is an excellent example of when to use artistic license. Some slang has absolutely no meaning in another language. In fact, a direct translation would make the poem fail. In that case, turn the meaning of the slang into its equivalent. Remember, you want readers in your language to enjoy the poem, not marvel at how well you can directly translate words.
4. Be Wary. This tip is for those of you who think translating takes a few minutes tops. There are some great computer programs that are designed for translation. There are also some excellent dictionaries and phrase books. But do not rely on them to give you the end-all-be-all translation. You must do the footwork. You can use these computer programs and dictionary translations as a guide. They may help get to the bones of the poem but your job is to put heart and live language on those bones.
Translating a poem is a lot like writing a poem yourself. You have to know what you want to say. You have to feel what you want to say. You have to be focused. There are a thousand other jobs that are easier, better paid, and eyesight-saving, but translating has its own glories. Putting poems into another language is one of the best ways to share culture, honor poets, and remind us that we can transcend geography.
Please check this the following link: http://www.writing-world.com/poetry/liddy.shtml it will help a lot! Besy of luck :)
It depends on who you are translating for and the content. Let me give you an example. Imagine a group of militants release an official statement in a foreign language which is very anti US. Accompanying this statement is a poem. In this case, you would have to carry out a very literal translation.
If, on the other hand, you are translating poems for an academic purpose, then you would have to try to create a balance in conveying the meaning - and goal of the poet - while trying to create a text that can stand on its own legs in the target language.
Simply translate as accurately, and as fully as possible, to convey the full nuance of language and meaning.
