Somali Poetry translation

[GeeljirePoet]

Any hint on how to translate Somali poetry into English ?are there some basic rules to follow? And how can a person deal with issues like ;direct translation problem , wrong yet misleading word choice and finally inability to achieve rhythm .

Experts come in

 

[GeeljirePoet]

I have read online a poem by Hadraawi called Life’s essence .In a bid to achieve rhythmic harmony ,the writer occasionally misinterprets the poem .And that kills the true meaning and essence of the poem .So, how can one affectively strike a balance between avoiding the risk of direct translation and careless distortion of the poem through misinterpretation?

 

[486th President]

GOOGLE TRANSLATE

 

[GeeljirePoet]

My improvised translation of the first two stanzas of Hadrawi’s poem .


Saaxiibkayoow hee dheh

Safar baan ka imi dheere

Marka hore salaan diirrran

Marka xiga samow heedhe

Ha ka nixin si-dalagtayda

Sacab fara-madhnaantayda

Suugaanta yaabkeeda

Salka iyo fadhaa keena

Marka xiga sugnaanteeda

Socodkiyo falkaa sheega

Xeerkeedu waa saase.





O my friend ,listen

I’m back from a long journey

First off , warm greetings

But Second ,listen to me Samow

Don’t be afraid of my rushness

My empty handedness

Wonders of the poetry!

The base ,the settledness

And next , our steadfastness

The walk and the action talk

Such are its laws









Saaxiibkayow heedhe

Anba saaka qaybteeda

Sirsirraan ka joogaaye

Xadhiggiyo bal eeg suunka

Iyo sabarka gaadiidey

Iyo salabka ii qaaran

Iyo suudha guudkayga



O my friend ,listen

From my part,this morning

I’m staying in Sirsirraan

Look at the rope ,the belt,

The painstaking drive,

The weapons I carry ,

And stench of my back

 

[GeeljirePoet]

GOOGLE TRANSLATE

It does NOT work with Somali poetry !

 

[Villainess]

It does NOT work with Somali poetry !

make an app, we woud support you.

 

[GeeljirePoet]

Here is the online translation I found .beautiful and rhythmic but sadly there is distortion of words and meaning !

Saaxiibkayoow hee dheh

Safar baan ka imi dheere

Marka hore salaan diirrran

Marka xiga samow heedhe

Ha ka nixin si-dalagtayda

Sacab fara-madhnaantayda

Suugaanta yaabkeeda

Salka iyo fadhaa keena

Marka xiga sugnaanteeda

Socodkiyo falkaa sheega

Xeerkeedu waa saase.


Say you'll pay heed, my friend,
things first, warm greetings,
but second, Rashid, listen to me:
don't look perplexed that I rush in
empty handed, lacking a poem,
poetry delivers its wonders
when we're seated and settled,
its full perfection follows
walking and watchfulness -
such are its laws.





So say you'll pay heed, my friend,
to the part I played this morning
on the battlefield at Sirsirraan:
see my weariness from the road
and the dirt on my body,
my uniform and bandolier
and the weapon I shoulder.


Saaxiibkayow heedhe

Anba saaka qaybteeda

Sirsirraan ka joogaaye

Xadhiggiyo bal eeg suunka

Iyo sabarka gaadiidey

Iyo salabka ii qaaran

Iyo suudha guudkayga

 

[GeeljirePoet]

GOOGLE TRANSLATE

Google translate of Hadrawis poem ,first stanza


Say it with a friend
I have come a long way
Warm greetings first
Next, make a statement
Do not be afraid of my crops
Applaud my emptiness
The wonder of literature
Base and base
Next up is its authenticity
Walk and tell the action
The rule is this.


Hilarious!

 

[Milo]

Do not be afraid of my crops

 

[Uncle ruckus]

Google translate of Hadrawis poem ,first stanza


Say it with a friend
I have come a long way
Warm greetings first
Next, make a statement
Do not be afraid of my crops
Applaud my emptiness
The wonder of literature
Base and base
Next up is its authenticity
Walk and tell the action
The rule is this.


Hilarious!

I tried google translating the sayyid poems and it just said the same thing

 

[GeeljirePoet]

1.Yaan smith ma muuqdeen
2.Rhodesia ma maageen
3.Hadaan midig la siinin
4.Portaguese ma madhiyeen
5.Mana uu maleeyeen
6.Mozambique Angola
7,Mindiyihii qarsoonaa
8. Guninea lagu miraayay
9.South Africa ma moogin
10,Hadal iyo murtina
11.Afrikaay is maqal
12.Midab gumaysi diida


13.Dadkoo oo midooboo
14.Kulligii masoobiyo
15.Nabad lagama maarmo
16.Maalintay xumaatee
17.Raga aydun murantaan
18.Warankuba macaan yahay
19.Madawgaaga kaan rabin
20.Muuqaaga kii neceb
21.Tiisana ha meel marin
22.Hadal iyo murtinaa
23.Afrikaay is maqal
24.Midab gumaysi diida


25.Hadii aan maskaxi talin
26.Dhagtu maqal xumaha jira
27.Indhu maalin aragti
28.Lugu hawsha maamulin
29.Gac muhuna wax kuu qaban
30.Cadaw kaama maato

31.Midabkuba sad weeyee
32Magacuba dan weeyee
33.Murtidu dhaxal gal weeye
34.Hadal iyo murtina
35.Afikaay is maqal
36.Midab gumaysi diida

1.Ian Smith would’ve not appeared
2.Nor he could mistreat Rhodesia
3.If not given a right hand
4.Portuguese wouldn’t have massacred
5.Nor would’ve belittled
6.Mozambique and Angola
7.The hidden daggers
8.Deployed against Guanine
9.And South Africa ,we don’t forget
10.And by the essence of the word
11.O Africa,listen one another
12.Reject the color of imperialism


12.The unity of our people ,
13 living together with harmony
14.And peace ,are indispensable
15.When things go worse
16.And you dispute the men (imperials)
17.Then the spear is sweet
18.Whoever dislikes your blackness
19.He who hates your appearance
20.Don't approve his things
21.And by the essence of the word
22.O Africa ,Listen one another
23.Reject the color of imperialism


24.If the brain doesn’t work
25.The ear perceive not the perils
26.The eyes are not farsighted
27.The legs don’t handle the task
28.And the arms do not aid
29.The enemy won’t spare you !


30.The color is our pride
31.Our name is our concern
32.Wisdom is our heritage
32.And by essence of the word
33.O Africa ,Listen one another
34.Reject the color of imperialism

 

[Gadhwayne]

Any hint on how to translate Somali poetry into English ?are there some basic rules to follow? And how can a person deal with issues like ;direct translation problem , wrong yet misleading word choice and finally inability to achieve rhythm .

Experts come in

There are a few qawaamiis

mostly authored by Wanlaweyn writers so they tend to they tend to mess up on words like xaadh vs xaar

 

[one]

Why translate when the gabay can be in English.

 

[one]

xaadh vs xaar

"gogol xaar"

Gogoshii dhamayd xaar baa loola tagay.