Singing in translation

Abstract

While translating, several factors must be considered, such as cultural differences, sentence structure, word choice, etc. Through this article, we aim to study the challenges of translating children’s songs and how rhythm and rhyme add further problems and difficulties to the translation process. In this type of translation, other elements are added to the equation where the choice of words for instance is bound by finding rhyming equivalents, and the translator must keep in mind the target audience, i.e. children, which requires the use of expressions that are easy and simple. Such considerations might consequently lead to changes in meaning on top of the changes in structure. This study will mostly focus on the methods and techniques adopted by the translators of children’s songs and will answer questions such as: how was the target language tailored to produce understandable and coherent songs carrying the messages and morals of the original? To what extent did the meaning of the target songs differ from that of the original songs? What are the techniques adopted and were they successful enough in producing songs faithful to the original ones?