Tag Archives: translation

To China and Back

Posted on May 18, 2021 by JMN

In 1922, Lin Shu translated the first part of “Don Quixote” into classical Chinese. It was published as “The Story of the Enchanted Knight.” Lin Shu knew no Spanish, nor any other western language. A friend who had read two … Continue reading →

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Neruda LXXXII

Posted on May 12, 2021 by JMN

[LXXXII]Amor mío, al cerrar esta puerta nocturnaMy love, on closing this nocturnal doorte pido, amor, un viaje por oscuro recinto:I ask, love, for a voyage through dark environs:cierra tus sueños, entra con tu cielo en mis ojos,shut your dreams, come … Continue reading →

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Travesía (11)

Posted on May 3, 2021 by JMN

Versión castellana del poema “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” (1856) de Walt WhitmanEnglish text at http://www.poetryfoundation.orgSpanish Interpretation by JMN [Translator’s note: The whole of part 7 follows. Of the poem’s 9 parts this short one has its peculiar thorniness. The elfish spin … Continue reading →

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The Wrath of Divines

Posted on April 30, 2021 by JMN

Like cartooning, the act of translation has proven dangerous at times. For his role in putting Christian scriptures into English, John Wycliffe’s long-dead bones were dug up, burnt, and chucked into the river by order of churchmen. … The act … Continue reading →

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Travesía (10)

Posted on April 25, 2021 by JMN

Versión castellana del poema “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” (1856) de Walt WhitmanEnglish text at http://www.poetryfoundation.orgSpanish Interpretation by JMN [Translator’s note: I’ve arbitrarily divided part 6 into 3 segments. The third of the three segments follows. The poem has 9 parts.] [6.3][I] … Continue reading →

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Travesía (9)

Posted on April 24, 2021 by JMN

Versión castellana del poema “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” (1856) de Walt WhitmanEnglish text at http://www.poetryfoundation.orgSpanish Interpretation by JMN [Translator’s note: I’ve arbitrarily divided part 6 into 3 segments. The second of the three segments follows. The poem has 9 parts.] [6.2]I … Continue reading →

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Travesía (8)

Posted on April 23, 2021 by JMN

Versión castellana del poema “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” (1856) de Walt Whitman English text at http://www.poetryfoundation.org Spanish Interpretation by JMN [Translator’s note: I’ve arbitrarily divided part 6 into 3 segments. The first of the three segments follows. The poem has 9 … Continue reading →

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Neruda LXXXIV

Posted on April 18, 2021 by JMN

[LXXXIV]Una vez más, amor, la red del día extingueOne more time, love, the net of day extinguishestrabajos, ruedas, fuegos, estertores, adioses,labors, wheels, fires, death rattles, goodbyes,y a la noche entregamos el trigo vacilanteand we deliver to the night the unsteady … Continue reading →

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‘Business in Great Waters’

Posted on April 17, 2021 by JMN

I jotted on the fly several snatches of phraseology that resonated with me today as I watched Prince Philip’s live-streamed funeral service on the BBC. May what power that is deal graciously with those who mourn, and those who go … Continue reading →

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‘Inter faeces et urinam nascimur’

Posted on April 13, 2021 by JMN

“Between feces and urine we are born,” said Augustine in the 4th century. The bishop of Hippo’s take on parturition was that our mothers effectively defecate us from their feculent crannies. Doctrine on sex and love handed down by dour … Continue reading →

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