Sunday, June 18, 2023

Geetanjali Shree and Daisy Rockwell on Translation - The New York Times - Translation

The writer and translator who won the 2022 International Booker Prize talk about their relationship as interpreters of words and feelings, and about the alchemy of translation itself.

This essay is part of a series called The Big Ideas, in which writers respond to a single question: Who do you think you are? You can read more by visiting The Big Ideas series page.

Our book, “Tomb of Sand,” is a translation by one of us, Daisy, of the Hindi novel written by the other, Geetanjali. The original novel, “Ret Samadhi,” was eight years in the making, and the translation another two and a half. The novel deals with the absurdity of boundaries — between people, genders, countries — but also between languages. With that theme as the backdrop, it stands to reason that in a translation, the border between writer and translator, between Hindi and English, is, at best, porous. After all, our first rule of translation is that those boundaries must dissolve.

Earlier this year, we were onstage at the Kolkata Literary Meet with last year’s English-language Booker winner, Shehan Karunatilaka. The moderator accidentally referred to the three of us as “both of you,” and Geetanjali quipped that she was glad he understood that the two of us were one.

What follows is a series of meditations on our state of being two in one, or, as we like to joke, “both of the one of us.”

Geetanjali Shree: Every writer is necessarily a translator. She articulates — translates into words — that inchoate, amorphous pre-word which jostles within her for expression. The translator, similarly, is also a writer. During our collaboration, I, the writer, tried to become the other — Daisy, the translator. I imagined her, and in that imagining I tried to be the process that made one text into the other. Then I could recreate, or reimagine, the process, learning more about both of us. At times our two identities merged in some kind of erosion of egos, but not fully — never fully! We always made it somewhere worthwhile. The writer, a translator, and the translator, a writer.

I remember an exchange I once witnessed, a mix of languages, feelings and the nonverbal, rendered here into English. A man saw his friend some distance away and called out in enthusiasm, raising his hand in greeting: “How are you, I hope?” The friend replied, expressing his not-so-good state in an unhappy gesture: “Somewhat, I think.” It is funny but profound, and illustrates our endeavor, where words in their literal meaning are only a part of the show.

Daisy Rockwell: We think of translation as a set of binaries — a journey between two texts, two languages, two writers, two places — but in actuality it is a continuum between these points. Loss is the immediate outcome, and discovery occurs over the long term. Where does Geetanjali stop, and where do I begin? Are we one author, or two?

Video player loading
Geetanjali Shree, the winner of the International Booker Prize in 2022, and her translator, Daisy Rockwell, share a look at their process for translating a passage in Shree’s novel, “Tomb of Sand.”

DR: The translator is a ventriloquist throwing a voice, but the voice is not her own. The translator is a medium receiving transmissions, but the transmissions come from another person whom she must become and write as.

GS: Each of us became the other, but the definition of the other was always elusive. And we sometimes reveled in the game by deliberately eluding one another. A deity in a temple is inert clay until devotion and passion enliven it. When that deity moves to another temple it is reinfused with energy and becomes something else, even if its form remains the same.

DR: What of the original is truly lost in translation? Everything. All of it. Translation is what happens next.

GS: Yes, rhetorically or philosophically speaking, everything is lost. Every articulation is a new translation. And where am I in all of this? Constantly needing to inhabit new shapes emerging in the text, constantly becoming another voice and being, another character in the novel — the crow, the door, the road! I write, and then Daisy and I write vis-à-vis each other, trying to become each other, so we can draw each other out, respectfully, lovingly, admiringly.

GS: A translation is always in process. A conversation. Writing is translation and vice versa. Both of us are interested not just in words and their meanings, but also in catching the nonverbal and articulating that. And we are forever incomplete as we simultaneously pursue some elusive original and constantly move away from it. I, as a writer, am forever trying to give word-shape to a pluralistic, polyphonic, messy world emerging from the storehouse within me and around me, made up of things I cannot list in their entirety — things like memory; imagination; cultural, historical, philosophical heritage; and more.

DR: The ink has dried, the deed is done, the book lives in the world. It seems the death of the author and of the translator, and yet the process continues. The moment we have a chance, our debates continue. Does “tomb” belong in the title? How can you bury the complexity and depth of the Hindi word “samadhi” within the text? What about this? And what about that? The conversations continue outside the printed book, because translation is the gray area between two texts and two people.

Geetanjali Shree, a writer, and Daisy Rockwell, a translator, won the 2022 International Booker Prize for their novel “Tomb of Sand.”

Adblock test (Why?)

Twitter Is Losing It Over the Accidental NSFW Translation on the French 'Barbie' Movie Poster - Yahoo Entertainment - Translation


With Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie coming out in about a month, everyone is excited for any and every update they can get about the film. Ever since the first round of posters dropped, fans were so excited to see all the little Easter eggs and the iconic one-liners! However, apparently, the creators of the new French Barbie poster made an error that French Twitter can’t stop freaking out about!


On June 16, a Twitter user by the name of @MathildeMerwani posted the French-translated poster of Margot Robbie on Ryan Gosling’s shoulders, telling Twitter why people are freaking out. She said, “French twitter losing its mind right now because they translated the Barbie poster literally and accidentally made a pun that reads ‘She knows how to do everything. He just knows how to f**k.’”

More from SheKnows


The line in question is “Lui, c’est juste Ken,” and what they probably meant to say was the now-iconic line of “He’s just Ken.” However, Ken means something different in France, and as you can gather, it apparently has an NSFW translation.


As Merwani said, Twitter is freaking out over this realization. Her tweet has already gotten over eight million views and gone viral, and if anything, it’s only made people more excited for the film.

Click here to read the full article.


For those that don’t know, Robbie stars as Barbie and Gosling stars as Ken in the topsy-turvy adventure following Barbie’s existential crisis. It’s set to be released in theaters on July 21, 2023.

Before you go, click here to see feel-good movies that we promise will make you smile.

'When Harry Met Sally' Feel-Good Movies We Promise Will Make You Smile'
'When Harry Met Sally' Feel-Good Movies We Promise Will Make You Smile'

Best of SheKnows

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter.
For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Adblock test (Why?)

Saturday, June 17, 2023

Kylie Minogue's lyrical phrase 'Padam' makes Urban Dictionary - Daily Mail - Dictionary

Kylie Minogue's 'Padam' makes Urban Dictionary with the pop star credited with coining the phrase - as she has her biggest hit in over a decade

Kylie Minogue is topping the charts with her latest single Padam Padam, making it her greatest hit in over a decade. 

The Australian pop princess, 55, is also making waves online as the single has gone viral on TikTok, with her lyrical phrase 'Padam' even making it to Urban Dictionary. 

According to the dictionary, 'Padam' is 'An onomatopoeia for the sound a heartbeat makes when you’re a diva who’s slaying, coined by Kylie Minogue.' 

Kylie is one of few female musicians that has had a long-standing pop career as continues to have her bangers played on radio, and she isn't letting the societal constraints that have been put on middle-aged women stop her. 

In her music video Padam Padam, the pop star is her usual sexy self as she dances in several racy red outfits. 

Kylie Minogue (pictured) is topping the charts with her latest single Padam Padam, making it her greatest hit in over a decade

The addictive electro-pop tune is racing to the top of the music charts in the UK and Australia.

It reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart, while Down Under, the song has climbed to No. 29 on the ARIA chart.

It's the first time that the 55-year-old has had a top ten hit in the UK since her collaboration with Taio Cruz, Higher, reached No. 8 in the 2011.

Kylie is one of few female musicians that has had a long-standing pop career as continues to have her bangers played on radio, and she isn't letting the societal constraints that have been put on middle-aged women stop her
The Australian pop princess, 55, is also making waves online as the single has gone viral on TikTok, with her lyrical phrase 'Padam' even making it to Urban Dictionary

In Australia, Padam Padam has become Kylie's first major success on the ARIA chart since Timebomb peaked at number 12 in 2012.

According to ARIA's official site, Kylie has had a total of 43 hit singles in the top 30 over the last three decades.

The song has propelled Kylie into an unexpected late career high, not seen since her Can't Get You Out of My Head days.

The catchy dance track has become a viral sensation on TikTok and Twitter, racking up millions of views through hilarious memes. 

In Australia, Padam Padam has become Kylie's first major success on the ARIA chart since Timebomb peaked at number 12 in 2012

Kylie addressed her chart comeback on social media this week, thanking fans for their support.

'It has been an incredible week topped off by being my birthday today and I can’t thank you enough. My heart is bursting with joy so thank you so so much,' she gushed.

'What an incredible, another wild turn in my life and my career. Thank you so much for all of your love and support, everyone who has got onto Padam Padam and made this possible for me. I love you, thank you so so much.'

The catchy dance track has become a viral sensation on TikTok and Twitter, racking up millions of views through hilarious memes

Adblock test (Why?)

Tsukihime Remake English Fan Translation Now Complete - Noisy Pixel - Translation

Fan team Tsukihimates has announced that their English fan translation of the TYPE MOON-developed visual novel Tsukihime Remake, Tsukihime -A Piece of Blue Glass Moon-, is now complete.

The original Tsukihime was initially launched for PC in Japan in December 2000 before receiving its aforementioned remake in August 2021 for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. It features protagonist Shiki Tohno who is exiled from his home after suffering from a significant injury enabling him to see the death lines on human beings and non-living matter.

This remake, as well as the original PC release, remain Japanese-exclusive, with there being no news on a potential localization. However, with the notable success of The Witch on the Holy Night’s worldwide release, it’s certainly possible that we’ll see the game finally be accessible to global audiences.

For installation instructions and additional information, check out Tsukihimates’ website.

The team’s website also provides the following notice for transparency and clarity:

“All files released or distributed by Tsukihimates are only patches. In order to make use of these patches, you must legally own a copy of the base game. Tsukihimates does not condone or encourage piracy of any kind. By downloading any Tsukihimates-provided patches, you assert that you have purchased a copy of Tsukihime -A Piece of Blue Glass Moon-.

Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- may be purchased online from Nintendo or physically through various different resellers.

All patches provided by Tsukihimates are provided ‘as-is’, without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement. In no event shall the authors or copyright holders be liable for any claim, damages or other liability, whether in action of contract, tort or otherwise, arising from, out of, or in connection with the software or the use or other dealings in the software.

By downloading or using any patches provided by Tsukihimates, you assert that you have read and accept this message.”

Adblock test (Why?)

A dictionary on Kambaramayanam with 22000 words and phrases launched - The Hindu - Dictionary

Kamban, the author of the Ramayanam, says his attempt to write the story of Rama is akin to the greed of a cat that seeks to drink the entire mythical ocean.  Compiling a dictionary as a gateway to Kambaramayanam could be no less task, and the first scholar to achieve it was A.S. Sundararajan Iyengar, a native of Tamil Nadu, who worked as a teacher at Ramanathan College in Sri Lanka. 

An illustration of Rama with Sita and Laxman.

An illustration of Rama with Sita and Laxman. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

“I started compiling the dictionary for the benefit of those who want to delve into the entire work or some parts of Kambaramayanam,” says Sundararajan mentioning the objective behind the compilation. 

Glossaries have always been an integral part of all great literary works. But few can boast of having an exclusive dictionary. There’s a dictionary for Periyapuranam, and Sundararajan compiled an exhaustive one for Kambaramayanam with a team of eight scholars including the late A. Srinivasa Raghavan and K. Vellaivarananar. 

Reviving ancient works

The book cover Kambaramayanam dictionary.

The book cover Kambaramayanam dictionary. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The book first published in 1970, has been reprinted by J. Mohan, founder of Sivalayam, an organisation dedicated to reviving ancient Tamil literary works that are out of print. 

Though planned as a dictionary of words, Sundararajan had expanded its scope on the advice of T.P. Meenakshisundaran, the then Vice-Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University, and it resulted in a voluminous collection of 22,000 words and phrases. It runs into four volumes, available as two books. 

Scenes from Ramayana on the outer wall of the mandapa of the principal shrine at Hazara Rama temple.

Scenes from Ramayana on the outer wall of the mandapa of the principal shrine at Hazara Rama temple. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

“The Kambaramanyanam dictionary contains all the words found in the great Tamil epic. They have been arranged alphabetically, with meanings and relevant quotations to explain the context. Thus becoming almost a concordance,” writes Meenakshisundaran in his preface. 

Original verses and interpolations

A literary masterpiece of more than 10,000 verses, Kambaramayanam poses a daunting task to anyone who ventures to write a commentary or compile a dictionary. Over the years, scholars have debated over the presence of original verses and interpolations, and variations in texts and meanings. 

T.K. Chidambaranatha Mudaliar, a scholar and ardent devotee of Kamban, had claimed that there were 3,000 interpolations. However, according to the edition of the Chennai Kamban Kazhagam, there are around 2,000 interpolations.  The affordable edition brought out by Murray S. Rajam incorporated separately what is considered interpolations. The order of the verses also differs with each edition, and Sundararajan had kept in mind all these issues and had referred to the variations in the serial number of the verses in each edition. He had also written in detail the history of the many Kambaramayanam editions brought out by various scholars and institutions including Annamalai University, Vai.Mu. Gopalakrishamachariyar, Kalakshetra, and Murray S. Rajam.  “The dictionary is the need of the hour since we do not have many scholars who can impart knowledge on Kambaramayanam to students. The dictionary will help those who are keen on reading Kamban’s work on their own or with the help of others,” says J. Mohan.  

Dravidian movement

His views capture the Tamil society’s attitude towards Kambaramayamam, that was sidelined after the emergence of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu. The leaders of the movement, though they appreciated its literary merits, disagreed with the subject matter.  

“Kamban was not on the list of Tamil savants for whom the DMK government led by C.N. Annadurai decided to install a statue on the occasion of the World Tamil Conference (1968). He agreed to it only after Karuthiruman, the Congress leader in the Assembly, made a strong case for it. Anna then came forward to donate his one month salary towards it,” recalls Mohan.

When he penned an anthem for the Classical Tamil Conference, DMK leader M. Karunanidhi included Kamban only after a few scholars pushed for it. Though Kamban is hailed as the ‘Emperor of Poetry’ and one of the most learned (kalviyir siranthavan Kamban), his work has been relegated to mere Bhakti literature. Today, not many universities teach Kambaramayanam in detail even for post-graduate courses in Tamil.  “When we were students, we had to study one epic. There is a need to create a culture in which students will read in full classics such as Kambaramayanam, Silapathikaram, Manimekalai, and other works, says Y. Manikandan, head of the Department of Tamil Language, Madras University.  But learning Kamban always poses a challenge. Even a redoubtable scholar like. T.P. Meenakshisundaran had told V.I. Subramanian, the first Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil University, that he had not read it word by word.  “Reading, delving into it and making a critical approach is a lifetime effort. Kambaramayanam is a deep sea. The more we delve, the more we will get the precious pearls,” writes D. Gnanasundaram, one of the living scholars on Kambaramayanam

A painting depicting the Yudh Kanda, the battle of Lanka

A painting depicting the Yudh Kanda, the battle of Lanka | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

Rekindling interest

He says the dictionary has incorporated Tamil words used by Kamban as an equivalent to Sanskrit words, Sanskrit words translated into Tamil as per the Tamil grammar, words borrowed from Tirukkural and colloquial usages.

For example, he has translated the word ‘Rajahamsam’ as ‘Arasavannam’ and ‘Kavatasan’ as ‘Aanpeyar Kannan’.  ‘Ankanam’, the word found in Tirukkural and not in Sangam literature can be found in Kambaramayanam,” he further writes. 

When listing out the reasons that would help the Tamil race achieve immortality, poet Subramania Bharati only refers to the verses of Silapathikaram, the depth, and beauty of Tirukkural and Kamban’s symbolism that sought to explain the meaning of the infinite. Tirukkural, a didactic literature, continues to play a role in the life of Tamils.  Epics seem to have lost their previous charm. The dictionary may rekindle Tamils’ interest in Kambaramayanam

Adblock test (Why?)

What Are Top-Down & Bottom-Up Investing? Definition & Examples - TheStreet - Dictionary

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

What Are Top-Down & Bottom-Up Investing? Definition & Examples  TheStreet

Microsoft adopts Canadian-made non-English name dictionary - CityNews Toronto - Dictionary

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Microsoft adopts Canadian-made, non-English name dictionary  CityNews Toronto