The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #37073   Message #518922
Posted By: Fiolar
01-Aug-01 - 06:55 AM
Thread Name: Translations mutilating songs
Subject: RE: Translations mutilating songs
I think some of the problem in translation is the fact that words in one language have no direct translation in another. Sometimes a single word cannot be translated without at least three or four other words to give it the same meaning. That works Ok in prose but fails in relation to song. For example the beautiful Irish song "Dhroimeann Donn Dilis" first line is "A Dhroimeann Donn Dilis, a shioda na mbo." I have seen an English translation which goes "My Dear Droimeann Donn, Oh Choicest of Cows." Taken like that it sounds as if a dairy farmer is getting ready to take one of his cattle to market.The Irish word "Droimeann" needs at least three English words to give its meaning.