Session 2, Activity 5 (German)
Activity 5 – understanding a German poem
Writing activities such as this one in German support vocabulary building and deepen understanding of language structures.
Now follow the steps below
Step 1
Read the well-known German poem copied below and identify the poetic devices used.
Sah ein Knab’ ein Röslein steh’n,
Röslein auf der Heiden,
War so jung und morgenschön,
Lief er schnell, es nah zu seh’n,
Sah’s mit vielen Freuden. Röslein,
Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein auf der Heiden.
Step 2
Input the German poem into your chosen OMT and translate into English.
Step 3
Is the translation poetic or literal? Does the OMT pick up on the fact that the text is intended as a poem?
Think about different poetic devices and select the ones that would most likely be spotted as poetic by an OMT. What does that tell you about poetry? And what about OMT?
Step 4
Analyse how well the poetic devices used in the original German poem above, such as rhyme, meter, and imagery, are conveyed in the machine translation.
Step 5
Often OMT provides a literal translation, which doesn’t capture the poetic qualities of the original text. This is particularly the case when a poem is less well-known. Using the translation from Step 2, consider how you could make it more poetic while preserving the meaning.
Consider how rhyme can be recreated in a translated text.
In German, write a new version of the poem, changing the flower or setting being referred to.
Example:
Sah ein Knab’ eine Tulpe steh’n, Tulpe in dem Garten, War so jung und morgenschön, Lief er schnell, sie nah zu seh’n, Sah sie mit vielen Freuden. Tulpe, Tulpe, Tulpe bunt, Tulpe in dem Garten.
Discussion
Creating rhyme in a translated text requires a careful balance between maintaining the original meaning and adapting language for rhythmic and rhyming structure in the target language. Here are some techniques to achieve rhyme in translation:
Use synonyms and near-synonyms
Finding synonyms or words with similar meanings can help match rhyme schemes in the target language.
Alter sentence structure
Adjusting the structure of sentences can help you place words that rhyme at the end of lines, making it easier to create a consistent rhyme scheme.
Use repetition or refrains
Some rhyme schemes can be achieved by repeating a word or phrase at the end of multiple lines, which is also common in poetry. This can be a substitute for exact rhymes if the original poem uses repeating sounds.
Add or remove minor words
Additions of minor words (like prepositions, articles, or conjunctions) or slight omissions can help create rhyme without altering the main meaning. In languages with gendered or plural nouns (e.g. German), slight changes to articles or endings can sometimes introduce rhyming words naturally.
Reflection
Using the questions below, reflect on the overall effectiveness of machine translation for poetic texts. You may conclude that while machine translation can provide a basic understanding, human translation is essential for capturing the full depth and beauty of poetry.
- How well does the machine translation capture the literal meaning of the original text?
- Are there any significant misinterpretations or inaccuracies in the translation?
- Are there any phrases that lose their meaning or impact when translated literally?
- How effective is the machine translation in conveying the emotional tone and aesthetic qualities of the original poem?
- How important is context in understanding and translating poetry?
- Does the machine translation consider the historical, cultural, and biographical context of the poem and its author?
- How might a human translator incorporate these factors into their work?
- How does translating a poem impact on the translator? Will it have any emotional effect? Will it change the way they are viewing the target language?
- In the light of your answers to the above questions, do you think it might be worth engaging in the task of translation for an additional purpose, e.g. enhancing cultural understanding or sensitivity?
- Despite its limitations, in what practical situations can machine translation be useful for poetry?
Discussion
Reflecting on the overall effectiveness of machine translation for poetic texts reveals both its strengths and limitations. Machine translation is often capable of capturing the literal meaning of the original text to some extent, but it cannot cope with the nuances that are essential to poetry. Misinterpretations or inaccuracies commonly arise, particularly when translating phrases that lose their impact when taken literally. Poetic language is inherently layered with emotional tone, aesthetic qualities, and cultural significance, and machine translation rarely succeeds in conveying these subtleties effectively.
Context is vital in poetry translation—whether historical, cultural, or biographical—and machine translation lacks the ability to grasp these deeper connections. A human translator, by contrast, can incorporate these elements through a more intuitive understanding of both the poem and its author, as well as through their own emotional connection to the text. The act of translating poetry can have a profound emotional effect on the translator, as it forces them to engage deeply with the original language and its many layers of meaning. This engagement may also alter their perception of the target language, as they attempt to recreate the emotional resonance of the original in a new linguistic context.
In light of these challenges, translation can serve a more effective purpose, such as fostering cultural understanding or sensitivity. Despite the limitations of machine translation, it can be useful in practical situations, such as providing a quick, rough overview of a poem or aiding translators as a starting point. However, for capturing the full beauty and depth of poetry, human translation remains essential.
Hopefully this activity has enhanced your appreciation of poetic form and demonstrated the challenges of preserving these elements in OMT translation.
It might have also encouraged you to think about poetry as a culturally relevant form of language use or even to play with language in a poetic format.
Extension activity
Consider the significance of ‘Röslein’ (little rose) in German literature and culture.
Consider how certain words carry cultural connotations that may not be directly translatable.
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