I decided to translate the music lyrics of my favorite songs from across the world into Telugu.
Telugu readers, please follow my blog. 😀 I will try to translate the lyrics of a new song each day.
Today is Tinariwen’s “Ténéré”. 🙂
https://t.co/ioZwNK2WRhతేనేరేకి-ఏమైంది/
https://twitter.com/vakibs/status/1293239572487430149?s=19
Here is a translation of Tolkien’s “Farover the misty mountains cold” from “The Hobbit” into Telugu (గున్నబుడుగు కథ) with a justification for why I translated “Dwarf” as “Yaksha” & “Elf” as “Gandharva”. Had so much fun with this.😀
https://t.co/rHldTQYZCWమంచు-ముసిరిన-పర్వతాల-వెన/
The genius of Tolkien lies not just with the story, but also in his words, which are pregnant with linguistic traces, that evoke a beautiful image in one's mind, if one speaks English proficiently. It is a challenge to keep these traces (at least some of them) in translation.
I translated "Rivendell" as సరోదరీలోయ in Telugu. My objective is to evoke a beautiful image in the mind, comparable to the adventure stories one might have heard from Indian folk tales, or one might have read in Chandamāma etc. Tolkien is a good challenge in this regard. :)
I translated two romantic French songs into Telugu: "Le temps des cerises" and "Le temps de l'amour". In my opinion, they both flow like a pair of rivers. The first song also has a strong connection with the idealism of the period of the Paris Commune.
https://t.co/xELoxQWQUz
Today, I translated "Glosoli" from the Icelandic band "Sigur Ros". In my opinion, the lyrics of this song contain a tantalizing metaphor for a Yogic journey. I tried to keep the subtle meanings intact in my translation. Well, I'm not sure how well i did.😄
https://t.co/rfjhEz0Cgf
I translated Schiller’s “An die Freude” (Ode to Joy) into Telugu as ఆనందహేలి. This poem was famously set to music by Beethoven in his 9th symphony. I translated “Freude” idealistically as “Ānanda” although “Sukha” or “Prīti” is literally more apt.
https://t.co/5ZfO4dZVD0ఆనందహేలి/
I translated “Elysium” as అమృతావటి and “flash mob” as మెరుపుగుంపు. Don’t know if anybody translated them before. 😀 There are so many concepts that are tough to translate as Sanskrit (and Telugu) have hundreds of words to describe what is said by one word in European languages.
Today, I translated the song "Zangalewa" from Cameroon pidgin language into Telugu as వెంగళివాయ్. I discussed the African tradition of ridiculing the European colonization and its imposed military and wars.
This is something we need to learn in India.
https://t.co/U8lvWTXJGk
As a protest to the onslaught of pidginization of Indian languages, I translated the lyrics exclusively in Telugu. I translated even the exclamations into Telugu idiom.
Just like in Africa, all Indian languages are turning into lifeless pidgins, due to the same colonial reasons.
Today, I translated the song of Renate Flores "Qawachkanchik chay killallata" from Quechua into Telugu as ఒకే చంద్రుణ్ణి చూస్తూ. Artists like Flores are breathing new life into languages like Quecha. My translation is a tiny way of tribute to their work.
https://t.co/bv11snyrsd
Today, I translated David Bowie's "Space Oddity" into Telugu as వ్యోమంలో విడ్డూరం, along with the delightful version by Chris Hadfield. I discussed the references in Bowie's lyrics to drugs, and on the profound influence of space travel on popular culture.
https://t.co/YJt0SrpQM8
I eschewed all the words in English, and translated even all the technical terms into Telugu. Just because I can do that. 😄 Science fiction is always a portal into a beautiful alternative reality, and I wanted to peek into a portal where India was never colonized by the English.
There is sadly a dearth of science fiction in Indian languages. In earlier times, Indian scientists like Jagadish Chandra Bose also wrote science fiction in Bengali. I hope more Indian scientists follow suit, enrich their imaginations and their own languages!
Today, I translated the Cuban song "Guantanamera" from Spanish into Telugu as గ్వంతనమో జవరాలా. This is a beautiful song that is sung by many international artists. Hopefully, somebody would sing it in Telugu too, adapting the lyrics naturally to music.
https://t.co/Ufa1lKFlHZ
Today, I translated the peasants' song from "Евгений Онегин" (Eugene Onegin) into Telugu as పల్లెవారి బృందగానం. This masterpiece of Pushkin was composed as an opera by Tchaikovsky. I hope this fantastic work will be brought to life in Telugu at some point.
https://t.co/OLAwhdQeYN
Today, I translated a German punk rock song "Westerland" into Telugu as సముద్రంపై బెంగ. These tongue in cheek lyrics are very much to the point during these Corona times. "Sehnsucht" is a German national emotion, I hope I painted this well into Telugu. 😄
https://t.co/WtOOrvm8om
How would you translate “punk” into Telugu?
Today, I translated the famous song "Baila Me" of Gipsy Kings from Spanish into Telugu as నాట్యమాడించు నన్ను. I discussed the rich culture of Roma people, their migrations from India ultimately to Europe, and how they enriched European music.
https://t.co/rsjqvxVgUs
Today, I translated a Hebrew song "ממעמקים" (Mi'ma'amakim) by Idan Raichel Project into Telugu as లోతులనుండి పిలిచాను, via an English translation. Apparently, it is inspired from a prayer psalm.
The devotional sentiment is comparable to Bhakti poetry.
https://t.co/wgEBt4PDut
Aujourd'hui j'ai traduit à Telougou les paroles de la chanson "Senegal Fastfood" chanté par Manu Chao, Amadou et Mariam. J'ai comparé les vies des ouvriers migrants Africains en Europe avec celles des ouvriers Indiens dans les États du Golfe.
https://t.co/JwkORcpC87
Today, I translated the lyrics of the song "Senegal Fast Food" from French into Telugu as సెనెగాల్ ఫాస్ట్-ఫుడ్డు. They describe the lives of migrant workers who live far away from their families, comparable to those of Indian laborers in the Gulf states.
https://t.co/JwkORcpC87
Today, I translated "Andrii Popa" from Romanian into Telugu as ఆంద్రీపోపా మొనగాడు. The band Phoenix sung the lyrics penned by poet Vasile Alecsandri, about the Hajduk or robber-hero. I compared the story to Indian folk tales about rebels in the mountains.
https://t.co/2d46xeFXZN
There are many robber-heroes in Indian history similar to Hajduks like Andrii Popa, who fought an occupying army of foreigners by taking to hills and jungles. Many stories are sadly forgotten.
Here is one story of Mukunda Rāju ముకుందరాజు of Kāsimkōṭa & the Reddi hill warriors. https://t.co/5LsrqtrW7T
Today, I translated "Making of a Cyborg" from the soundtrack of the one-and-only "Ghost in the Shell". యంత్రకాయప్రవేశం is one of the most delightful translation experiences, due to the deep connections of the symbolism between Japanese and Indian cultures.
https://t.co/pmw9la5mJL
యంత్రకాయప్రవేశం
నేను నృత్యం చేశాను గనుక
భువనసుందరి ముగ్ధమయ్యింది
నేను నృత్యం చేశాను గనుక
చంద్రుని వెన్నెల ప్రతిధ్వనించింది
నన్ను పాణిగ్రహణం చేసుకోవడానికి
ఒక దేవుడు దిగివస్తాడు
నిశిరాత్రి చెదిరిపోతుంది
మాయాపక్షి మనసెత్తి పాడుతుంది
https://t.co/EIAOq1nnfP
I translated “cyborg” as “Yantrakāya” యంత్రకాయ यन्त्रकाय (machine-bodied).
The feminine version is యంత్రకాయిని.
“Entering of cyborg body” is యంత్రకాయప్రవేశం यनत्रकायप्रवेश which is similar to the Yogic Siddhi known as పరకాయప్రవేశం परकायप्रवेश (entering another person’s body).
I translated “animation/anime” as Anuprānita అనుప్రాణితం अनुप्राणित (breathed into life).
Today, I translated the Samoan song by Opetaia Foai "Tātou te horomoana" from the soundtrack of the Disney film "Moana" into Telugu as నీలిసాగరపథం తెలుసులే.
The song celebrates the voyages of Polynesian explorers in the deep blue Pacific ocean.
https://t.co/TgEzSKwWkJ
I have long been a fan of Polynesians. At some point, I hope to visit these islands and speak a few words in their languages. If we ever want to travel in deep space, we need to learn from these cultures. Crossing the Pacific with canoes is the closest analogy we have on earth.
I am also certain that they have some knowledge of Kalinga civilization, and perhaps were even trade partners. This must be investigated.
See this remarkable similarity of the name of the Saptamātrika constellation.
One important constellation is the Pleiades, which is called the Krittika in India. They are considered the Sapta Matrikas (7 divine mothers) from whom life on earth is supposed to derive spiritual energy.
Now a curious name for the Pleaides in the Maori language: "Matariki" https://t.co/e6IHmLWOTU
Of course, the name Bacchus is related to the Sanskrit name of a deity : Bhaga. The Bhaga who gave the name Bhāgirathi for the Ganges. And the word Bhagavān, used to describe Vishṇu today.
Bhaga is the lord of fortune, for celebrating the harvest, since far earlier Vedic times.
At some point, Bacchus (Bhaga) got associated with the phenomenon related to Kārtikēya/Skanda. The Greeks probably borrowed this indirectly from the Egyptians. However, disaster happened due to the precession: Pleiades stopped being visible in the northern hemisphere in summer.
There are many human cultures in the world. But we share 2 things: we all need to grow food, and we all live under the same sky.
In this thread, I will discuss various deities for agriculture: how they have similar names and how they are influenced by astronomical observations. https://t.co/9odJsahTIC
https://twitter.com/vakibs/status/1020326969936924672?s=19
In Slavic countries, the goddess of agriculture was called "Uroda". This word relates most directly to water (oda/udaka) which is the basis of agriculture. The prefix "ur" is an ancient root, connected to Sanskrit "Ara" and "Ārya", which refer to planned "irri"gation of canals. https://t.co/1QqV4xnqul
In this thread, I will discuss a deadly serious issue: the fate of rivers. But with some speculative ideas in a light-headed vein.
This is Bhāgīrathi (the Ganges), the most sacred river in India. Perhaps, no other river has been venerated as much by humans all through history. https://t.co/ylRv175l1B
https://twitter.com/vakibs/status/1018421214707093504?s=19
...
କବି ସମ୍ରାଟ ଉପେନ୍ଦ୍ର ଭଞ୍ଜ ଙ୍କ ଯୁଗାନ୍ତକାରୀ କାବ୍ୟ ଵେଦେହୀଶ ବିଳାସ ର ପୁନଃ ପପ୍ରସାରଣ ମନକୁ ଉତ୍ଫୁଳିତ କରୁଛି, ଏ ଜାତି ର ସ୍ମୃତି ପଟ ରେ ଭଞ୍ଜଙ୍କୁ ବଞ୍ଚେଇ ରଖିବାକୁ କରିଥିବା ସଂଗ୍ରାମ ରେ ଏହି ଧାରାବାହିକ ର ଏକ ବିଶେଷ ସ୍ଥାନ ରହିବ, ମୋ ଅଗ୍ରଲେଖ ଶୁଣିବେ
@AkashvaniAIR @AIRCuttack ଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ଆନ୍ତରିକ ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ ଓ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା https://t.co/pwmybNmfVc
https://twitter.com/RajatKar_Odisha/status/1298265740663906304?s=19
ବାଟ ଛାଡ ସୁହଟ ନାଗର ର ଦି' ଟା ସଂସ୍କରଣ ଶୁଣିଲି
୧. ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର ମିଶ୍ର /ସ୍ଵର୍ଣ୍ଣପ୍ରଭା ତ୍ରିପାଠୀ
୨. ବାଳକୃଷ୍ଣ ଦାଶ / ସଂଯୁକ୍ତା ମହାନ୍ତି
ଭିନ୍ନ ରାଗ . ପ୍ରଥମ ଟି ମୋର ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ ପସନ୍ଦ
@pattaprateek ଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁରୋଧ ରାଗ ବିଷୟ ରେ କିଛି ଆଲୋକପାତ କରିବେ
ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ @odiamelody
https://twitter.com/DandapaniSatap1/status/1297528274273198080?s=19
ଉଭୟ ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ ସ୍ୱର, ସଂଯୋଜନା ଏଥିରେ କିଛି ନାହିଁ, କେବଳ ଯାହା ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶନା ଦେଇଥିବେ / ଗାୟକଙ୍କୁ ଢାଞ୍ଚା ଶିଖେଇଥିବେ ।
୧। ରାଗ ଇମନ କଲ୍ୟାଣ, ତାଳ ରୂପକ
୨। ରାଗ କଲ୍ୟାଣ, ତାଳ ଝୁଲା
https://twitter.com/pattaprateek/status/1297552692928114690?s=19
Small rendition of a melancholic vātsalya song from Prahallada Nataka— in which the mother Lilabati beseeches her son to forget Hari for his own good. Preceded by the Rāga-dhyāna of Kāmodi in Skt and Odia following Odissi tradition & shastras. 1/2 #OdissiMusic https://t.co/fMbnuMlZsh
https://twitter.com/pattaprateek/status/1296863543803838464?s=19
ତାଙ୍କର ଧ ଆଉ ଦ ଉଭୟ ପରମ୍ପରାରେ ପ୍ରଚଳିତ, ଦ ଅମାନ୍ୟ କରାଯାଏନି ; କର୍ଣ୍ଣାଟକୀ ପ୍ରାୟ ସମସ୍ତେ ଦ କୁହନ୍ତି (ତାଙ୍କ ଭାଷାର ଗୁଣ ସେପରି) । ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ ପରମ୍ପରାରେ 'ଧା' କହିବାକୁ ବାଧ୍ୟ ; ଆକାର କାଟିଲେ ବି ଚଳିବ ନାହିଁ ।
ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ : ଉଭୟ ରେ ଓ ରି ପ୍ରଚଳିତ ଥିବା ଦେଖାଯାଏ ; ଆମ ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରମତ 'ରି' (ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଏହା ଏଯାବତ ପ୍ରଚଳିତ) - 'ରେ' ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରାଚୀନ କାଳରୁ ବ୍ୟବହାର ହେଉଛି ବୋଲି ପ୍ରମାଣ ମିଳୁଛି କିନ୍ତୁ 'ରି' ବେଶୀ ପ୍ରାଚୀନ
ହିନ୍ଦୁସ୍ଥାନୀ : 'ରେ' (ରି କେହି କହିବା ଶୁଣିନି)
କର୍ଣ୍ଣାଟକୀ : ରି
ଛୋଟ ସଜେସଣ : ଏହି ଗୋଟିଏ shotରେ ଥିବା ଖମ୍ବଗୁଡ଼ିକ ଉତ୍କଳୀୟ ଶୈଳୀର ନୁହେଁ । କଳା ଖମ୍ବଗୁଡ଼ିକ କର୍ଣ୍ଣାଟକ ହୟଶାଳା ଶୈଳୀୟ ଏବଂ ବାହାର ଖମ୍ବଗୁଡ଼ିକ ପଶ୍ଚିମ ଭାରତ ପରି ଦିଶୁଛି । ଏତେ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ମନ୍ଦିର ଥାଉଣୁ ଖଞ୍ଜିବା ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ନ ଥିଲା । https://t.co/EHK5wUUP9f
ସଂଳାପ ଯିଏ ଲେଖିଛନ୍ତି ମାନିବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ । ଖାଣ୍ଟି ଓଡ଼ିଆ । କୁହାଯିବା ଶୈଳୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ସମପରିମାଣରେ ପ୍ରଭାବଶାଳୀ । @samareshroutray ଓ ମନୋଜ ମିଶ୍ର ଆଜ୍ଞାଙ୍କୁ ଦଣ୍ଡବତ— ନିଜ ନିଜ ଚରିତ୍ରଙ୍କୁ ଜୀବନ୍ତ କରି ଥୋଇଦେଲେ ।
https://twitter.com/pattaprateek/status/1294483655092396038?s=19
