WON IN TRANSLATION: TRANSFORMATIONS OF SONGS IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE

Abstract

We have all heard the term “lost in translation”, referring to the way one can never capture the entire essence of the original when translating a text. What about cases, however, when a text (a poem or song in this case) is actually improved in translation, something is won and the translated version goes on to lead a rich life of its own, even exceeding in impact the original. This paper will look at various approaches to translating songs, from those which try to preserve the original as closely as possible when translating the source text to those which are more interested in capturing the rhythm and cadence and which amount to more of an adaptation. The examples used will be either from or into English and will cover a range of genres and time periods. The songs analysed herein are not meant to be by any means comprehensive. Several examples connected with the Czech language are included due to the author’s own long-term experience with this culture and country. Examples connected with the Ukrainian language are also dealt with. The other languages included (Mandarin, Greek, Irish and Zulu) are due to the particular songs chosen for analysis. There will also be a short discussion of related phenomena including adaptations or rewritings of songs within one language, in this case English or how particular songs meet with a remarkable response in another culture although the texts have remained in the source language. The texts of songs are some of the most widely translated cultural artefacts from time immemorial, but little scholarly attention has been focused on them. Translations of songs are an area deserving of further exploration and this contribution will hopefully lead to further discussion and theorizing.