Take a song or poem in any language of your country and translate it into English. Try to translate the meaning accurately, even if the literary form in English is different. The Kiswahili poems given below are suitable for those who know Kiswahili.
As in EXERCISE 1, underline every place in your translation where you have used an idiomatic expression or grammatical construction that is different from that of the Source Language. Discuss these with an advisor or colleague.
Underline every place in the original where there is a poetic or literary device that you have been unable to put into English. How does this change the effect or impact of the song or poem?
Could your translation be sung to the same melody as it can be sung in the Source Language? How might it be adjusted so that it can be sung?
Excerpt from KUKU NA MWEWE
The Chicken and the Hawk, by K W Wamitila, Muwa Publishers Limited, 2006.
Paukwa!
Paukwa!
Nyakati zilizopita, hizo zama za zamani,
Njaa iliwakeketa, wanyama wote mwituni,
Nyani, sungura na bata, wakengia taabani,
Wakaulizana kwani, sasa tutafanya nini?
Wakazipiga akili, wanyama wote porini,
Kupima lile na hili, wafanye shauri gani?
Njaa imewakabili, hawana mlo nyumbani,
Wakaulizana kwani, sasa tutafanya nini?
Sungura kajitokeza, kaingia ukumbini,
Kasema, “inashangaza, sisi akina fulani,
Njaa inatuchakaza, mwewe kiruka angani,”
Wakaulizana, “kwani, sasa tutafanya nini?”
“Mimi vile ninaona, mwewe akiwa angani,
Kote anawezaona, kote kote aridhini,
Chakula anakiona, akiwapo mawinguni,”
Wakaulizana kwani, sasa tutafanya nini?
Wakatoa na mawazo, wote pale ukumbini,
“Ni nani siri anazo, za kutupaza angani?
Na tuone siri hizo, tutie kitu tumboni,”
Wakaulizana kwani, sasa tutafanya nini?
Excerpts from UTENDI WA AYUBU
Ballad of Job, a classical Swahili ballad
Mtume wetu Ayubu
apeweo na Wahabu
mali mangi ya ayabu
yakaenea dunia
Kwanda na tutaye mbuzi
yali alifu mazizi
alopowa na Azizi
mangi mali yasosia
Na watumwa wa kukifu
kulla zizi maarufu
wali watunga alifu
waliokimtungia
Na ng’ombe na ngamiaze
na farasi na pundaze
hesabuye niweleze
ni kama nimezotaya
Na anwai na mali
kulla kitu mbalimbali
kuzitaya ni muhali
siwezi kuwatayia
Na wanawe tuwaseme
ni sabaa wanaume
kana simba wenye tume
wote marika mamoya
Na watatu wanawake
wenye nuru taambake
jumla zijana zake
ashara metimilia
Umuwshiye Wadudi
ibada akashtadi
kwa mali na auladi
yasimpe kushangaa
Akendo mno ibada
kwa Molawe Sarimada
pakaitoka husuda
ya kuya kuhusudia
…
Kisha cha tumwa Ayubu
nimekoma kukutubu
kwa auni ya Wahabu
Rabbi menisahilia
Ameifanya sahali
illahi Rabbi Jalali
kiarabu kubadili
lugha ya kiswahilia
Tumeyanoa zuoni
na katika Quruani
na nyinyi angaliani
sikusaza neno moya
Hiki Si Kile
by Ahmad Nassir bin Juma Bhalo
Natamba mtambi tambo na watambi hatambile
hajifungata masombo kwa hayano na hayale
nakuwaonya vigambo ukumbi wa watu tele
hiki na hiki si kile hikino ni kiki hiki.
Yaweni yasiyokuwa yaweni yawe yawele
huko ni kujiatuwa pelelezato uole
mambo ni majaaliwa kiumbe sisahawile
hiki na hiki si kile hikino ni kiki hiki.
Siwi bangu habananga mwendo wangu ni u’ule
bongo langu limejenga akili kitwani tele
sipigani na mjinga nyuma akwitaye mbele
hiki na hiki si kile hikino ni kiki hiki.
Dunia ichigaluka penye mafupi na male
wakumbwa hupapatika leo hivi kesho vile
ni wapi pa kuwaweka dhiki zisiwadhikile
hiki na hiki si kile hikino ni kiki hiki.
Tammati baiti tano shairi nalikomele
sipendi kusema nao ningaweza kwenda mbele
mwisho wangu ni hapano ajuaye n’atambule
hiki na hiki si kile hikino ni kiki hiki.
REMEMBER:
When checking a translation, ask:
Is it accurate? Is the meaning as nearly as possible the same meaning that the original author intended?
Is it clear? Will people understand the message?
Is it natural? Is this the way that people speak?
Adapted from Bible Translation: An Introductory Course in Translation Principles by Katharine Barnwell, 2017, page 32.