du fu? together with sappho, the best lyric poet in world history.
ana
----- Original Message -----
From: "andrew burke" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 11:32 AM
Subject: Re: translating Japanese
> In my case it is Mandarin I am trying to translate. I have read a
> million and one translations of Li Bai (aka Li Po) and Du Fu (aka Tu
> Fu), but so many are either dull English or factually and
> linguistically inaccurate that I have had the effrontery to enlist the
> help of a local Mandarin-speaking English teacher (Chinese local) -
> well-educated and sharp as a tack - but still very conservative with
> literature. She does the initial 'word' translations of characters,
> then takes me through the characters, telling me in more expansive
> terms what they mean. We leave the syntax and rhetoric until I start
> to make sentences, phrase, or whatever is appropriate. Then my first
> draft goes back to her, and she (invariably) pulls me up on a few
> points. The impossible element to translate is the form. My knowledge
> of Chinese cultural and social history is going through a giant growth
> spurt, but it would take years of dedicated study to actually become
> proficient enough to do it on my own. So, just a dabble trying to
> correct some wrongs a little.
>
> Soon, some will be ready for unveiling if Tian (ever!) agrees with me.
>
> I am also going to do some more inventive versions, just to see how
> they turn out. I like messing with the masters - but we won't tell
> Tian that just yet >g< She is less than half my age but more
> conservative by a country mile!
>
>
> Androo
>
>
>
> On 17/05/07, Roger Day <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> looking through andrew's excellent photies, I came across this:
>>
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/aburke/501935591/
>>
>> on which he says, 'translations forthcoming'. Which reminded me that
>> one of my projects is to speak and read Japanese. Obviously, for
>> speaking, get a teacher. But how does one go about translating? With
>> French, I got a French-English dictionary and go through a chosen
>> piece. How does one go about translating Japanese into English?
>>
>> Roger
>>
>> --
>> My Stuff: http://www.badstep.net/
>> "Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious." Oscar Wilde
>>
>
>
> --
> Andrew
> http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
> http://www.inblogs.net/hispirits
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/aburke/
>
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