The value of this site is immeasurable for me, but not in the way some of you readers here on Poetbay might be thinking.....
Did you know?
Idioms and rhyming poems generally do not translate well word-for-word. Translating them often forces the translator to choose between literal meaning and the poem's musicality. Attempting a direct translation will almost always cause the rhythm, humor, and intended message to be lost. Here is a quick breakdown of why these two elements are notoriously difficult to translate:
1. Rhyme Schemes
Word Endings: A word that creates a perfect, musical rhyme in English might have an entirely different ending in another language.
The Trade-Off: Translators must compromise. If they attempt to force an exact rhyme in the target language, they often have to change the original meaning of the poem. Alternatively, if they keep the exact meaning, they lose the poem's rhyme scheme and rhythmic flow.
Creative Adaptation: Many translators focus on preserving the spirit and poetic meter rather than the literal rhyme. Others use near-rhymes or find similar vowel and consonant patterns.
2. Idioms
Culturally Specific: Idioms rely on unique historical, cultural, or geographical backgrounds. An idiom translated literally makes no sense to speakers of a different language.
Translating the Concept: Because idioms cannot be translated word-for-word, translators usually have to find an idiom in the target language that has a similar meaning but dissimilar form, or they must paraphrase the expression entirely.
Lost Nuance: Translating an idiom removes its original flavor and cultural context, replacing it with a localized equivalent that might not carry the same emotional punch.
8 sites
How do translators retain the rhyming quality of text?Jan 24, 2011 — There are no exact equivalents in each and every language for each and every word and phrase... let alone equivalents with matchin...Online Literature Network
Why do translations of poems/epics from different languages ...Feb 9, 2020 — John Stanley. Studied Linguistics & German (college minor) at San Jose State University. · 6y. A successful translation of a poem ...QuoraHow do poems written in foreign languages still rhyme after ... - QuoraJun 26, 2019 — * Heitän suoni, heitän maani, heitän heinikkopihani, heitän valkeat veteni, heitän hiekkarantaseni. Heitän suot sorehtijoille, maa...Quora
"Apples to Oranges, Golfballs to Figs,
I'm no more a white elephant
than you are a pig".
■■■■■■■■■■■■
To demonstrate an example of translation and rhyme scheme butchering is illustrated in this simple jig. Accordingly,
here is the best translation for the poem's line phrases. Because the sentence relies heavily on English idioms, they are translated into their closest French equivalents:"Des pommes et des oranges, des balles de golf et des figues, je ne suis pas plus un éléphant blanc que tu n'es un cochon."
A quick breakdown of how the idioms and phrases translate:
Apples to Oranges: Translated as "Des pommes et des oranges" (the French equivalent of comparing unlikes).Golfballs to Figs: Translated as "des balles de golf et des figues".White Elephant: Translated directly as "un éléphant blanc", which means a useless or unwanted possession in French as well.Pig: Translated as "un cochon" (the common French equivalent for this idiom).
It loses the rhyme, even though the meaning is translated.
AND WHAT ABOUT SONGS [with rhyming lyrics, too ?]
I never thought about the way I spoke and my use of common speech in America. I break the rules of grammar purposefully and sometimes not, but especially when it comes to writing poetic verse. I use idiomatic speech, symbolic and abstract. It did not take long to realize there was a disconnect in poetry and communication due to this. We have been juggling the conceptual of verbal artistry from the different languages with diverse customs, history and religion. As a consequence- we do not understand each other and I think twice now days before posting a poem here. I have no need nor require "feedback" and it is mostly for these reasons. This place reminds me of my research and study of theology and Biblical texts and related-- so much is rooted in linguistics, Transliteration and translation that influences interpretation. It is a roadblock to appreciating and understanding any form of literature. And, I have had time to sit back and finally analyze the situation at "Poetbay". Communicating and friendly interactions are influenced by sincerity, honesty and trust and transparency. That does not exist here. Almost everyone hides behind a fake identity and fake persona. This place is full of fakery and seems to attract misery that loves company.
I can stay and I can go. But I'm going to stay, anyway. And you with negatively programmed hearts can go sob over some spilled milk. Get a life. Play some music. Stop fixating on yourselves.
Short story by Clara Mae Gregory
Read 5 times
Written on 2026-06-22 at 18:59
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Globalizing Poetry Pros and Cons
[AI Overview]Did you know?
Idioms and rhyming poems generally do not translate well word-for-word. Translating them often forces the translator to choose between literal meaning and the poem's musicality. Attempting a direct translation will almost always cause the rhythm, humor, and intended message to be lost. Here is a quick breakdown of why these two elements are notoriously difficult to translate:
1. Rhyme Schemes
Word Endings: A word that creates a perfect, musical rhyme in English might have an entirely different ending in another language.
The Trade-Off: Translators must compromise. If they attempt to force an exact rhyme in the target language, they often have to change the original meaning of the poem. Alternatively, if they keep the exact meaning, they lose the poem's rhyme scheme and rhythmic flow.
Creative Adaptation: Many translators focus on preserving the spirit and poetic meter rather than the literal rhyme. Others use near-rhymes or find similar vowel and consonant patterns.
2. Idioms
Culturally Specific: Idioms rely on unique historical, cultural, or geographical backgrounds. An idiom translated literally makes no sense to speakers of a different language.
Translating the Concept: Because idioms cannot be translated word-for-word, translators usually have to find an idiom in the target language that has a similar meaning but dissimilar form, or they must paraphrase the expression entirely.
Lost Nuance: Translating an idiom removes its original flavor and cultural context, replacing it with a localized equivalent that might not carry the same emotional punch.
8 sites
How do translators retain the rhyming quality of text?Jan 24, 2011 — There are no exact equivalents in each and every language for each and every word and phrase... let alone equivalents with matchin...Online Literature Network
Why do translations of poems/epics from different languages ...Feb 9, 2020 — John Stanley. Studied Linguistics & German (college minor) at San Jose State University. · 6y. A successful translation of a poem ...QuoraHow do poems written in foreign languages still rhyme after ... - QuoraJun 26, 2019 — * Heitän suoni, heitän maani, heitän heinikkopihani, heitän valkeat veteni, heitän hiekkarantaseni. Heitän suot sorehtijoille, maa...Quora
"Apples to Oranges, Golfballs to Figs,
I'm no more a white elephant
than you are a pig".
■■■■■■■■■■■■
To demonstrate an example of translation and rhyme scheme butchering is illustrated in this simple jig. Accordingly,
here is the best translation for the poem's line phrases. Because the sentence relies heavily on English idioms, they are translated into their closest French equivalents:"Des pommes et des oranges, des balles de golf et des figues, je ne suis pas plus un éléphant blanc que tu n'es un cochon."
A quick breakdown of how the idioms and phrases translate:
Apples to Oranges: Translated as "Des pommes et des oranges" (the French equivalent of comparing unlikes).Golfballs to Figs: Translated as "des balles de golf et des figues".White Elephant: Translated directly as "un éléphant blanc", which means a useless or unwanted possession in French as well.Pig: Translated as "un cochon" (the common French equivalent for this idiom).
It loses the rhyme, even though the meaning is translated.
AND WHAT ABOUT SONGS [with rhyming lyrics, too ?]
I never thought about the way I spoke and my use of common speech in America. I break the rules of grammar purposefully and sometimes not, but especially when it comes to writing poetic verse. I use idiomatic speech, symbolic and abstract. It did not take long to realize there was a disconnect in poetry and communication due to this. We have been juggling the conceptual of verbal artistry from the different languages with diverse customs, history and religion. As a consequence- we do not understand each other and I think twice now days before posting a poem here. I have no need nor require "feedback" and it is mostly for these reasons. This place reminds me of my research and study of theology and Biblical texts and related-- so much is rooted in linguistics, Transliteration and translation that influences interpretation. It is a roadblock to appreciating and understanding any form of literature. And, I have had time to sit back and finally analyze the situation at "Poetbay". Communicating and friendly interactions are influenced by sincerity, honesty and trust and transparency. That does not exist here. Almost everyone hides behind a fake identity and fake persona. This place is full of fakery and seems to attract misery that loves company.
I can stay and I can go. But I'm going to stay, anyway. And you with negatively programmed hearts can go sob over some spilled milk. Get a life. Play some music. Stop fixating on yourselves.
Short story by Clara Mae Gregory
Read 5 times
Written on 2026-06-22 at 18:59
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text
