Translation of MusicalsTranslation of MusicalsThe Example of "Les The Example of "Les

Misérables"Misérables"(From English into (From English into

Portuguese)Portuguese)Jales RochaJales Rocha

Université Paris III – Sorbonne NouvelleUniversité Paris III – Sorbonne Nouvelle

Higher School of Interpreters and Translators – Higher School of Interpreters and Translators –

Ecole Supérieure d’Interprètes et de Traducteurs (ESIT)Ecole Supérieure d’Interprètes et de Traducteurs (ESIT)

jalesrocha@gmail.comjalesrocha@gmail.com

““Translation consists of Translation consists of understandingunderstanding an original text, an original text, deverbalizingdeverbalizing its its linguistic form and then linguistic form and then expressingexpressing, in , in another language, the another language, the ideasideas grasped grasped and the and the emotionsemotions felt.” felt.”

LEDERER, Marianne (2003): LEDERER, Marianne (2003): Translation: the Translation: the Interpretive ModelInterpretive Model. . St Jerome Publishing, St Jerome Publishing, Manchester, p. 1; (1994): Manchester, p. 1; (1994): La traduction aujourd’hui – La traduction aujourd’hui – le modèle interprétatifle modèle interprétatif, Hachette, Paris, p. 11., Hachette, Paris, p. 11.

1. EMOTIONAL COMPONENT1. EMOTIONAL COMPONENT

““[The] translator of poetry without musical [The] translator of poetry without musical accompaniment is relatively free in comparison accompaniment is relatively free in comparison with one who must translate a song – poetry set to with one who must translate a song – poetry set to music. Under such circumstances the translator music. Under such circumstances the translator must concern himself with a number of severe must concern himself with a number of severe restrictions : (1) a fixed length for each phrase, restrictions : (1) a fixed length for each phrase, with precisely the right with precisely the right number of syllablesnumber of syllables, (2) , (2) the observance of the observance of syllabic prominencesyllabic prominence (the (the accented vowels or long syllables must match accented vowels or long syllables must match correspondingly emphasized notes in the music), correspondingly emphasized notes in the music), (3) (3) rhymerhyme, where required, and (4) , where required, and (4) vowels with vowels with appropriate qualityappropriate quality for certain emphatic or greatly for certain emphatic or greatly lengthened notes.”lengthened notes.”

NIDA, Eugene A. (1964): NIDA, Eugene A. (1964): Toward a Science of Toward a Science of Translation, with Special Reference to Principles and Translation, with Special Reference to Principles and Procedures Involved in Bible Translating,Procedures Involved in Bible Translating, E.J. Brill, E.J. Brill, Leiden, p. 177.Leiden, p. 177.

1. 1 Rhyme1. 1 Rhyme

English English

Hurry near, another day is Hurry near, another day is dying dying (A)(A)

Don’t you hear the winter Don’t you hear the winter wind is crying wind is crying (A)(A)

There’s a darkness which There’s a darkness which comes without a warning comes without a warning (B)(B)

But I will sing you lullabies But I will sing you lullabies and wake you in the and wake you in the morning. morning. (B) (B)

PortuguesePortuguese

Vem deitar, que o sol já Vem deitar, que o sol já vai embora vai embora (A)(A)

Vem pra mim, a noite não Vem pra mim, a noite não demora demora (A)(A)

Vem comigo que eu vou Vem comigo que eu vou cantar baixinho cantar baixinho (B)(B)

Até você dormir eu vou Até você dormir eu vou cantando de mansinho cantando de mansinho (B)(B)

(Fantine’s Death)

1.2 Number of Syllables1.2 Number of Syllables

EnglishEnglish

They/ will/ live/ a/gain/ in/ They/ will/ live/ a/gain/ in/ free/dom free/dom (8)(8)

In/ the/ gar/den/ of/ the/ Lord. In/ the/ gar/den/ of/ the/ Lord. (7)(7)They/ will/ walk/ be/hind/ the/ They/ will/ walk/ be/hind/ the/

plough/-share plough/-share (8)(8)They/ will/ put/ a/way/ the/ sword. They/ will/ put/ a/way/ the/ sword.

(7)(7)The/ chain/ will/ be/ bro/ken The/ chain/ will/ be/ bro/ken (6)(6)And/ all/ men/ will/ have/ their/ And/ all/ men/ will/ have/ their/

re/ward. re/ward. (8) (8)

PortuguesePortuguese

Vão/ vi/ver/ em /li/ber/da/de Vão/ vi/ver/ em /li/ber/da/de (8)(8)

Pe/los/ pá/tios/ do/ Se/nhor Pe/los/ pá/tios/ do/ Se/nhor (7)(7)

Ca/mi/nhar/ por/ en/tre as/ Ca/mi/nhar/ por/ en/tre as/ flo/res flo/res (8)(8)

Sem/ as/ fa/cas/ do/ ter/ror. Sem/ as/ fa/cas/ do/ ter/ror. (7)(7)

Cor/ren/tes/ que/bra/das Cor/ren/tes/ que/bra/das (6)(6)E/ to/dos/ te/rão/ seu/ va/lor E/ to/dos/ te/rão/ seu/ va/lor

(8) (8)

(Epilogue)

1.3 Stressed Syllables1.3 Stressed Syllables

EnglishEnglish

CoCosesettte, your te, your fafather is a ther is a saintsaint

When they wounded me When they wounded me

He took me from the barricadeHe took me from the barricade

And brought me home to youAnd brought me home to you

PortuguesePortuguese

CoCosesette, um tte, um sansanto é teu to é teu paipai

Foi quem me salvouFoi quem me salvou

Me carregou como um bebêMe carregou como um bebê

E então me trouxe até aqui. E então me trouxe até aqui.

(Beggars at the Feast)

1.4 Choice of Vowels1.4 Choice of Vowels

EnglishEnglish

For the wretched of the earthFor the wretched of the earthThere is a flame that never There is a flame that never

diesdiesEven the darkest night will Even the darkest night will

endendAnd the sun will And the sun will riserise..

PortuguesePortuguese

Como a chama que Como a chama que acendeuacendeu

E que jamais vai se apaE que jamais vai se apagargarSombras da noite vão Sombras da noite vão

sumir sumir Quando o sol Quando o sol raiarraiar. .

(Epilogue)

2. 2. NOTIONAL COMPONENTNOTIONAL COMPONENT

EnglishEnglish

One One dayday more!more!Another day, another destinyAnother day, another destinyThe never-ending road to The never-ending road to

CalvaryCalvaryThese men who seem to know These men who seem to know

my crimemy crimeWill surely come a second Will surely come a second

time.time.

PortuguesePortuguese

Só mais umSó mais umUm outro Um outro diadia, um destino , um destino

a maisa maisA estrada torta onde eu A estrada torta onde eu

não sigo em paznão sigo em pazPois hão de vir atrás de Pois hão de vir atrás de

mimmimAtrás da Atrás da marca de Caimmarca de Caim..

(One Day More)

EnglishEnglish

Is he from Is he from heavenheaven or from or from hellhell??

And does he knowAnd does he know

That, granting me my life todayThat, granting me my life today

This man has killed me even so?This man has killed me even so?

PortuguesePortuguese

Ele é o Ele é o malmal ou é o ou é o bembem??

O sim ou o não?O sim ou o não?Se hoje a vida me Se hoje a vida me

salvousalvouDesatinou-me o Desatinou-me o

coração. coração. (Javert’s Suicide)

EnglishEnglish

Drink from the pool. How clean Drink from the pool. How clean the taste.the taste.

Never forget the years, the Never forget the years, the waste.waste.

Nor forgive them.Nor forgive them.For what they’ve done.For what they’ve done.They are the guilty – They are the guilty –

everyoneeveryoneThe day begins...The day begins...And now let’s seeAnd now let’s seeWhat this new worldWhat this new worldWill do for me. Will do for me.

PortuguesePortuguese

Água beber, que gosto Água beber, que gosto tem.tem.

Como lavar de mim o Como lavar de mim o breu?breu?

E esquecerE esquecerO mal e a dor.O mal e a dor.Cavaram fundo o meu Cavaram fundo o meu

rancor.rancor.O dia vem,O dia vem,Já vai nascer.Já vai nascer.E o mundo vaiE o mundo vaiMe receber. Me receber.

(Prologue)

EnglishEnglish

You can takeYou can take

You can giveYou can give

Let him beLet him be

Let him liveLet him live

If I die, let me dieIf I die, let me die

Let him live, bring him Let him live, bring him homehome

Bring him home.Bring him home.

PortuguesePortuguese

Sois o solSois o solSois o marSois o marOnde vou Onde vou Descansar.Descansar.Se eu morrer, vou Se eu morrer, vou

morrermorrerDai-lhe o sol pra Dai-lhe o sol pra

viverviverPra viver.Pra viver.

(Bring Him Home)