The Art and Challenge of Translating Songs and Poems: Insights from a Language Research Center Seminar
On January 29, 2020, the Language Research Center organized an insightful seminar on the Bachelor of Arts in English program. The seminar featured Dr. Adel Bahameed's presentation on the complex subject of translating songs and poems.
Dr. Bahameed's discussion focused on the inherent challenges in translating musical and poetic works. His research was guided by a purpose to enrich the field of translation studies by exploring the feasibility of translating songs and poems.
Dr. Bahameed emphasized the intricate task of translating musical and poetic pieces, referencing a long-standing debate on their translatable nature. He cited examples of the translated works of renowned Arab singer Abu Bakr Salem and celebrated Arab poet Hussein Al-Mihdar.
He elucidated the need for a translator to be mindful of various factors while translating a song, such as rhythm, rhyme, prosody, culture, and the music itself. He highlighted that some translators prioritize form, while others give precedence to content. Ideally, he suggested, the translator should have a poet's sensibility to fully comprehend the poetic text.
Dr. Bahameed concluded his seminar with the assertion that Arabic poems are indeed translatable, albeit with inherent complexity. However, he argued that Arabic songs defy translation due to the additional factor of music, which lies beyond the translator's scope of control.
The seminar was characterized by interactive and engaging discussions, with its success evident in the active participation of the attendees. Notably, the King Abdullah Road Campus also participated in the seminar, further enhancing the event's inclusivity and reach.
