Homophonic Translations
Sound translation, also known as homophonic translation, refers to the practice of recombining the phonetic elements of an existing text to form new words and new meanings. This practice of “intra-language” translation, in contrast to that of conventional “inter-language” translation, maintains that meaning can be transmutable and versatile. The sensory experience of language runs parallel and entwines with the original meaning in often unexpected and uncomfortable ways. These translations are just another instance in the life of the poem, spiraling into itself and unraveling.
"Einmal" by Paul Celan (1905)
original and English translation
Animal
They’re hurting him
the woosh of the welt
a gazelle, not long
working
Eyes of unendless
fur knitted
itching.
Licked war. Red tongue.
"Einem, der vor der tür stand" by Paul Celan (1905)
Eyed-him, therefore, the twisted...
Eyed-him, therefore, the twisted, heinous
happens:
him-
that is mine, watch out-: some
killcrops signed and trodden, the help-
shorn, and then, them
called again, stifled these cricknecks,
godboring brooder, then
meet their blood again,
got it,
get made, then
stillpendant men’s lives.
Rabbit, nighten it, rabbit
lewd
That’s him
besides the word,
these’m
scribes that lend bad digging
nights in the mute
distance
sprites die why
crippled finger some hell,
bring in them spoons.
That’s it.
……………………….
Without the advent to skewer, alibi.
……………………….
Ride the morgue and turn out, ride- —
"Am Rande der Nacht" by Rilke (1905)
And ‘Round her Night
Mine is two and diesel white
wash of the nighttime land —
its onus. It’s been unsaid,
of the rushing bright
resonating guest’s pen.
The thing is, guy can lie to her
on moor, and then do kill all
three traumas, that’s why in the viper
Three roadsick can slay for their gruel
Cancer gets lighter...
I sold
Still burn her sin turn: then would
Allison termed mere lay been.
Once twice in din fling inert,
Weird knock dim lifted stray ban
That phone miner transcendence donor,
Um, welted their hind hull well,
do smile, small tender pattern
in the altar
Abrogate on it
And felt....