Song Translation s2ss English Department Seminar: Advanced Translation Professor: Eva Stahlheber WS 2012/ 13, 15.01.2012 Presentation: Christin Gäbel, Bianka Werner

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Outline 1 Introduction 2 History 3 Motives 4 Theory 5 Two Examples 6 Practical Example 7 Exercises Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Definition: Song or Vocal translation Translation of the poetic discourse in the art of the musicopoetic forms, shapes and skills, harmonizing together the conflicting roles of both music and language ! Closely linked to translation of poetry  Most vocal music is set to verse ! 1 Introduction Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Music Genres (Religious) Hymn Opera Classical Folk Musical Play Pop Rock Metal And more… 1 Introduction Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

2 History of Song Translation Religious Hymn Translation Song translation began with Martin Luther (15th century) Translation of song originates in church songs Congregational Singing  Singing as a form of togetherness ! Congregational Singability  For every note a syllable ! 2 History of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

2 History of Song Translation Bad Example: St.Patricks hymn "Be though my vision" 2 History of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

2 History of Song Translation Good Example: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! 2 History of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

3 Motives of Song Translation Economic Factors Opportunities for singers to become known internationally Pop music leading genre to translate songs Accessibility Subtitles keep originals structure and authenticity (e.g. Opera) Enable artists to understand what they are singing in a foreign language Help fans to understand foreign music (e.g. Internet song translation) 3 Motives of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Performance (e.g. Opera) Song Properties Performance (e.g. Opera) Music Rhythm Melody Harmony Text Verse Diction Rhyme Song Translation 4 Theory of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Song Translation More restrictive than translation of poetry  Use Skopos theory ! Challenge: assignment of syllables to specific notes in original Contrafactum = substitution of one text for another without substantial change to the music Process of making sacrifices (Indicates quality of translation) Criteria: singability, rhyme, rhythm, and naturalness 4 Theory of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

4 Theory of Song Translation ! Logocentrism vs. Musicocentrism ! Symbiosis of logocentrism (dominace of the word) and musicocentrism (dominance of sound) decide on weight of importance Sound dominates text (e.g. Classical Music) vs. Text dominates sound (e.g. Hip Hop) One rule: music predates text ! 4 Theory of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Rhyme & Fidelity Prime reason for failure of song translation: focus on rhyme Auditory effect of rhyme much weaker than in poetry Modification of both rhyme and meaning Exception to the rule: Hip Hop 4 Theory of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Rules Three-character principle  faithfulness, expressiveness, correspondence Functional equivalence theory 1. Full equivalence almost impossible 2. Meaning of original should be closely observed 3. Modifications should not hurt meaning of the original 4. Social and cultural connotations must be taken into account 5. Translated lyrics should be a poem rather than prose 4 Theory of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Options for the Translator 1. Not translating lyrics 2. Translating the lyrics without taking the music into consideration 3. Adapting the music to the translation 4. Adapting the translation to the music 5. Writing new lyrics 4 Theory of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Analysis Logocentristic criteria Dramatic Situation – Who?, Where?, When?, What?, How? Imagery: Auditory, Kinesthetic, Olfactory, Gustatory, Tactile Theme: Various themes of the song Diction (word choice): Connotation, Metaphor, Irony, Puns etc. Syntax: Length, Complexity, Transposed elements 4 Theory of Song Translation Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Analysis Musicocentristic criteria Prosody Rhythm Melody Mood Harmony Style Form Instruments 4 Theory of Song Translation ! Last Step: Combine logocentristic and musicocentristic elements ! Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel 5 Nena „99 Luftballons Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel 5 Nena „99 Luftballons Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel 5 Nena „99 Luftballons Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel 5 Nena „99Luftballons“ Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel 5 The Beatles „I want to hold your hand“ Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel 5 The Beatles „I want to hold your hand“ Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

5 The Beatles „I want to hold your hand“ Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Song - Vanity of Vanities 6 Practical Example Song - Vanity of Vanities Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel 7 Exercises Headline 1. Vanity of Vanities = Eitelkeit der Eitelkeiten Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel 7 Exercises Headline Vanity of Vanities = Eitelkeit der Eitelkeiten Verse 1 I've been watching you for days now = Ich beobachte dich schon seit Tagen Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Headline Vanity of Vanities = Eitelkeit der Eitelkeiten Verse 1 I've been watching you for days now = Ich beobachte dich schon seit Tagen From the other side of the room = Von der anderen Zimmerseite 7 Exercises Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Headline Vanity of Vanities = Eitelkeit der Eitelkeiten Verse 1 I've been watching you for days now = Ich beobachte dich schon seit Tagen From the other side of the room = Von der anderen Zimmerseite Like the points of two ice picks your eyes are sharp and blue = Wie zwei Eisspitzen sind deine Augen durchdringend und blau 7 Exercises Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Headline Vanity of Vanities = Eitelkeit der Eitelkeiten Verse 1 I've been watching you for days now = Ich beobachte dich schon seit Tagen From the other side of the room = Von der anderen Zimmerseite Like the points of two ice picks your eyes are sharp and blue = Wie zwei Eisspitzen sind deine Augen durchdringend und blau The chance of sin never occurred to you = Das Risiko zur Sünde kam dir nie in den Sinn 7 Exercises Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel 7 Exercises Bridge A giant hawk angel, a creature from above = Ein riesiger Engelsfalke, ein Wesen von oben (vom Himmel) You were when I first met you = Warst du, als ich dich zum ersten mal sah But I've never been, I have never been in love = Aber ich war nie verliebt, ich war nie verliebt Verse 2 Lions and serpents and eagles have served me for years = Löwen und Schlangen und Adler haben mir Jahre gedient They cover my body, protect me from fears = Sie bedecken/ zieren meinen Körper, schützen mich vor meinen Ängsten I tried to get through to you but all you ever say is = Ich versuchte dich zu erreichen, aber alles was du jemals sagst ist Refrain I got no use for it = Ich kann es nicht gebrauchen/ ich brauch es nicht Vanity of vanities = Eitelkeit der Eitelkeiten I got no use for it = Ich brauch es nicht   Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel References Gorlée, Dinda L. (2005). Song and Significance: Virtues and Vices of Vocal Translation. New York: Editions Rodopi B.V. Graham, Arthur (1989). "A New Look at Recital Song Translation." In: Translation Review, Volume 29, Issue 1: pp. 31-37. Franzon, Johan (2008). "Choices in Song Translation: Singability in Print, Subtitles and Sung Performance." In: The Translator: Volume 14, Issue 2. Finland: University of Helsinki: pp. 373-399. Low, Peter (2003). "Translating poetic songs: An attempt at a functional account of strategies." In: Target, Volume 15, Number 1. John Benjamins Publishing Company: pp. 91-110(20).   Oracle ThinkQest Education Foundation (2013). "How to Analyze Poetry". In: Students for Students. Accessed on 17.12.2012 from <http://www.thinkquest.org/dsc/docs/competition_tou_09132011USEN039 66.shtml?cc=us> Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel

Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel Videos D. Kiss Ildikó - Rop Tú Mo Baile http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6tuTOwcb9E Be Though My Vision http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCGxhzb7JP0 Seminar: Advanced Translation Bianka Werner - Christin Gäbel