Introduction :
Hello, I'm Miral Joshi, a B.A English Literature student at Government Arts College, Talaja, with a passion for exploring the intricacies of language, translation, and literary expression. In this blog post, I'll be delving into the rich world of Gujarati poetry, with a focus on Sundaram's poignant poem 'રામને મંદિર ઝાલર બાજે', skillfully translated into English as 'Three Neighbours' by Saguna Ramnathan and Rita Kothari. Through a nuanced comparative analysis of human and machine translations, I aim to reveal the subtle yet significant differences in tone, emotional resonance, and cultural context that emerge when we translate from one language to another. Join me on this literary journey as we explore the complexities of translation, the beauty of Gujarati poetry, and the power of language to connect us across cultures.
Translating Essence : A comparative study of Human and Machine translation
Gujarati poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”:(sundarm)
રામને મંદિર ઝાલર બાજે, ઘંટના ઘોર સુણાય,
શેઠની મેડીએ થાળીવાજું નૌતમ ગાણા ગાય,
મંદિરની આરતી ટાણે રે,
વાજાના વાગવા ટાણે રે,
લોકોના જૂથ નિતે ઉભરાય,
Human translation (Rita kothari) :
The gongs sound in Ram's temple and you can hear the bells.
In the rich man's palace the gramophone swells.
As the arti goes around,
And the noise flows around,
Crowds of people come swarming there to stand.
Vocabulary:
1.Gongs - ઘંટ (large bells typical in a temple)
2.Ram's temple:રામનું મંદિર (A Hindu temple dedicated to lord Rama)
3.Rich man's palace: ધનિકોનો મહેલ(A welthy person's luxurious residence)
4.Gramophone:ગ્રામોફોન (an old fashioned record player )
5.Arti : આરતી (A Hindu ritual of worship,involving singing and offering prayers)
6.Swarming: ભીડ ભરવી ( gathering a large number, Like a crowd)
7.crowds of people: લોકોની ભીડ ( gathering a large number of individuals)
Machine translation (chat gpt):
The gongs resound in Ram's temple,
The deep tones of the bells echo,
In the rich man's mansion, the gramophone plays,
New songs are sung with enthusiasm.
As the temple's arti begins,
The sound of instruments fills the air,
Crowds of people gather every day,
To stand and listen, entranced by the sound.
Vocabulary :
1.ઝાલર - gongs, large bells
2.ઘંટ-bell
3.શઠે- rich man ,wealthu person
4.મેડી - mansion
5.થાળી વાજુ-gramophone
6.નૌતમ-new
7.ગાણા- songs
8.આરતી - hindu ritual of worship
9.વાજા - instrument
10.ઊભરાય- gather, assemble
◇ Comparison:
Human translation infuses emotion and empathy into the translated text, capturing
the poet's intent and evoking feelings in the reader. For example, in the Gujarati
poem, the human translator conveys the sense of reverence and devotion in the line
'રામને મંદિર ઝાલર બાજે, where the sound of the gongs in Ram's temple is translated
to evoke a sense of spiritual . reduce this to a literal 'Gongs ring in Ram's temple',
stripping the text of its emotional resonance. Human translators bring their emotional intelligence to the translation process, ensuring that the text connects with readers
on a deeper level.
Gujarti poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”(sundaram):
એક ફળીના ત્રણ રહેવાસી, શેઠને બીજા રામ,
ત્રીજી માકોર બાઈ રાન્ડેલી કોડી કનેના દામ,
કો'કના દળણાં દળતી રે,
પાણીડાં કો'કના ભરતી રે,
કાઢી ખાય રોટલો કરતી કામ.
Human translation (Rita Kothari):
One street holds three neighbours the seth and Lord ram,
And widowed makorbai with not a paisa to her name,
She grinds corn for people,
Fetches water for people,
To eke out a living her bread.
Vocabulary:
1.seth - શેઠ (a wealthu businessman or merchant)
2.Makorbai - a widow (name of the character)
3.paisa - a unit of currency (small amount of money)
4.Grinds- પીસવું to crush or pulverize (grind corn)
5.Fetches -લાવે to bring or retrieve ( fetch water)
6.Eke out-કોઈ રીતે ગુજારો કરવો (to manage with difficulty)
Machine translation (chat gpt ):
On one street, there live three neighbors - the wealthy Seth, Lord Ram, and the poor
widow Makorbai. She grinds corn for people, fetches water for some, and manages
to earn just enough to bake a rotlo (flatbread) for her living.
Vocabulary:
1.ફળી- street
2 .રાન્ડેલી-widow
3.કોડી- few,small amount
4.કનેના -coins,money
5.દામ - earnings
6.ભરતી- to Fetche
7.કાઢી- to bake
8.રોટલો-flatbread
◇ Comparison:
It's interesting to note that while machine translation has improved significantly,
human translation still excels in capturing nuances, context, and cultural subtleties,
as seen in the Gujarati text translation: "On one street, three neighbors live - wealthy
Seth, Lord Ram, and poor widow Makorbai, who grinds corn and fetches water to
earn a meager living, barely enough to bake a rotlo for sustenance," whereas
machine translation provides a more literal translation, "One street three residents
Seth second Ram third Makorbai widow coins money earnings grind corn people
water bring some rotlo make living," highlighting the difference in fluency, idiomatic
expressions, and tone between human and machine translation.
Gujarat's poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”( sundaram):
શેઠની મોટી દૈત્ય હવેલી ગામનું નાક કહેવાય,
રામનું મંદિર આરસ બાન્ધયુ નિત ઝળાંહળાં થાય,
ફળીના એક ખૂણામાં રે,
ગંધાતા કો'ક ખૂણામાં રે,
માકોરના મહેલ ઊભેલા જણાય.
Human translation (Rita Kothari):
The pride of the village is the mension of The seth;
And Ram's marble temple glitters till late.
Hidden in a corner,
A squalid smelly corner,
The palace of makorbai stands.
Vocabulary:
1.pride- ગૌરવ (a feeling of deep satisfaction or pleasure)
2.Mansion - મહેલ( A large and impressive house)
3.Marble- સંગેમરમર( A type of metamorphic rock often used in sculpture and
architecture)
4.Glitters-ચમકે( shines brightly with flashes of light )
5.squlid - ગંદો (dirty)
૬.smelly - દુર્ગંધવાળો (having a strong and unpleasant smell)
Machine translation (chat gpt ):
The grand, gigantic mansion of Seth towers over the village, while Ram's temple,
adorned with mirrors, glitters brightly. In a corner of the street, a smelly, dirty corner,
stands the palace of Makorbai.
Vocabulary:
1.દૈત્ય- gigantic
2 .હવેલી - mansion
3. આરસ - mirror
4.નિત - always
5.ઝળાહળ- to glitter
6.ગંધાતા -smelly
૭.સુણાય- a poetic way to end the sentence
◇ comparison:
The human translation and machine translation have distinct differences in tone and
style. The human translation is more concise and poetic, using phrases like "pride of
the village" (ગામનું ગૌરવ) and "glitters till late" (નિત ઝળહળા થાય) to create a vivid
image. In contrast, the machine translation is more literal and descriptive, using
phrases like "grand, gigantic mansion" (મોટી દૈત્ય હવેલી ) and "glitters brightly"
(ઝળાહળા ં ંથાય) to convey the same meaning. Additionally, the human translation uses
more precise language, such as "marble temple" (સંગેમરમર નુ મંદિર) and "squalid
smelly corner" (ગંધાતા ખૂણા ), whereas the machine translation uses more general
terms like "temple, adorned with mirrors" (આરસ બાન્ધ યુ મંદિર) and "dirty corner" (ગંદો
ખૂણો ). Overall, the human translation has a more refined and evocative tone, while
the machine translation is more straightforward and factual.
Gujarati poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”( sundaram) :
છત્રપલંગે શેઠ સુતા હોય, રામ સીતાજીને ઘેર,
પાછલા પહોરની મીઠી ઊંઘની લોક લેતું હોય લહેર,
પહેલો જયાં કૂકડો બોલે રે,
જાગેલો કૂકડો બોલે રે,
તૂટે માકોરની નીન્દર સેર.
Human translation (Rita Kothari):
The seth sleeps in comfort, and with sita sleeps Ram,
In the early hours to morning all sleep in night's calm,
With the cock's first crowing,
The waking cock's cowing ,
Makorbai rises from sleep.
Vocabulary :
1.comfort - સુખ (a state of of physical and mental well-being)
2.sita- સીતા ( lord Ram's wife ,a Hindu goddess)
3.calm- શાન્તિ (A stage of peace)
4.crowing - બોલવાની ક્રિયા the sound by cock)
Machine translation( chat gpt):
The Seth sleeps on a comfortable bed , while Ram and Sita enjoy a sweet sleep in
the early hours of the morning . The world is in a state of calm , but with the first
crowing of the cock , the waking cock's call breaks Makorbai's sleep.
Vocabulary:
1. છત્રપલંગે- comfortable bed
2. શેઠ - a wealthy businessman or merchant
3. મીઠી - sweet
4. ઊંઘ - sleep
5. પાછલા - early hours
6. પહોરની - morning
7. લોક - world
8. લેતુ- in a state of
9. લહેર- calm
10. કૂકડો - cock
11. બોલે- to crow
12. જાગેલો - waking
13. માકોર - Makorbai, a name
14. નીન્દર - sleep
◇comparison:
The human translation uses more poetic language, such as "comfort", "night's calm",
and "cowing", to create a vivid image. In contrast, the machine translation uses more
straightforward words like "sleeping comfortably", "peacefully", and "crows". The
human translation also uses more concise phrases, like "early hours to morning",
while the machine translation uses longer phrases like “early morning hours”.
Gujarati poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”(sundaram):
માકોર ઊઠી અંગ મરોડે, પેટાવેદિપક જ્યોત,
ધાન લઈને દળવા બેસે,રામની માગી ઓથ ,
ઘરેરાટ ઘંટી ગાજે રે,
ભુખી ડાન્સ ઘંટી ગાજે રે,
ગાજે જેમ દૂકાળીયાનું મોત.
Human translation (Rita Kothari):
Waking makor stretches and then Lighting a flame
Settles to grind corn and prays in Ram's name
Lord roars the mill ,
The gluttonous mill,
Like the groan of the starving man.
Vocabulary :
1.stretches - અંગ મરોડવું( to extend or expand one's body)
2.Lighting a flame- જ્યોત પ્રગટાવવી (Igniting a fire or spark (for prayer )
3.prays - પ્રાર્થના (To offer devotion)
4.Roars-ઘંટીનો અવાજ (rumbling sound)
5.Gluttonous- ભૂખી (Excessively hungry)
6.Groan- a low ,mournful sound (like a starving person)
Machine translation (chat gpt):
Makor wakes up, stretches her body, lights a lamp, takes grain, and sits to grind,
praying to Ram. The mill roars like a starving person's groan, echoing in the
household, like the cry of a famine-stricken .
Vocabulary:
1. માકોર - Corn or Grain
2. ઊઠી - Wakes up
3. અંગ મરોડે- Stretches her body
4. પેટાવે-Lights a lamp
5. દિપક - Lamp or Light
6. જયોત- Flame or Spark
7. ધાન- Grain or Corn
8. દળવા - Grinding or Milling
9. રામની- Of Lord Ram
10. માગી - Prays or Worships
11. ઓથ- Household or Home
12. ઘરેરાટ- In the household
13. ઘંટી
- Mill or Grinder
14. ગાજે- Roars or Makes a loud sound
15. ભૂખીડાસ - Starving person
16. દુકાળીયાનુ- Famine-stricken pers
17 .મોત - Groan or Cry
◇ comparison :
The human translation is more poetic and idiomatic, using phrases like "Lord roars
the mill" and "gluttonous mill". In contrast, the machine translation is more literal,
adding extra words like "echoing in the household". While both convey the same
meaning, the human translation better captures the poem's nuances and poetic
essence.
Gujarati poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”(sundaram):
ગોકુળઆઠમ આજ હતી ને લોક કરે ઉપવાસ,
માકોર ભૂખી રહી નકોરડી કાયામાં ન રહ્યો સાસ,
સીતાના રામ રીજાવવાં રે,
મુઠ્ઠી’ર ધાન બચાવવા રે,
પેટાવ્યો પેટમાં કાળ હુતાશ.
Human translation (Rita Kothari):
Today's gokul attam, the day for a fast;
Major too is fasting her breath may not last,
To please sita's ram, Save a handful of grain,
She sets her empty belly on fire.
Vocabulary:
1.Gokul attam- ગોકુળ આઠમ (gokul ashtami)- A Hindu festival celebrating lord
Krishna's birthday
2.save a handful of grain- મઠૂી’ર ધાન બચાવવા (save a small portion of food as an
offering)
3.Empty belly- ખાલી પેટ (hungry stomach)
4.sets her empty belly on fire- ભૂખ્યા રહેવાની
સ્થિતિ (A metaphorical expression
indicating intense devotion)
Machine translation ( chat gpt):
Today was Gokul Ashtami, and people observed a fast,
Makor remained hungry, with no breath left in her body,
To please Sita's Ram, she saved a handful of grain,
And set her empty belly on fire.
Vocabulary:
ગોકુળ આઠમ - a Hindu festival
2. ઉપવાસ - fast, abstaining from food or drink
3. માકોર - possibly a name or Makor -Capricorn zodiac sign
4. ભૂખી- hungry
5. નકોરડી - empty, void
6. કાયામાં- in the body
7. સાસ - breath
8. સીતાના રામ - Lord Rama, husband of Sita
9. રીઝાવા - to please
10. મુઠ્ઠુી - handful
11. ધાન - grain, food
12. બચાવવા - to save
13. પેટાવ્યો - set on fire
14. પેટ - belly, stomach
15. કાળહુતાશ - a metaphorical expression indicating intense devotion or sacrifice.
◇Comparison:
The human translation of the Gujarati poem captures its poetic nuance and
emotional depth, while the machine translation is more literal and lacks resonance.
For example, "her breath may not last" conveys fragility, whereas "her breath is not
left" is more direct. Similarly, "sets her empty belly on fire" is a metaphorical
expression of devotion, whereas "sets her stomach on fire" is literal. Human
translation provides a more nuanced interpretation, highlighting the importance of
intuition and emotional intelligence.
Gujarti poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”( sundaram):
શેઠને ઘેર રામને મંદિર સાકરઘીના ફરાળ,
પાણામાં કાલ કરવા ભજીયા દળવા આપી દાળ,
દળાતી દાળ તે આજે રે,
હવાયેલ દાળ તે આજે રે,
ઉઠાડે માકોર પેટ વરાળ.
Human translation (Rita Kothari):
The Seth's house and Ram's temple have ghee fruit and sweets.
The've given corn for grinding for the next days feasts.
She's grinding dal today.
The dal is damp today,
And makor’s hungry belly is ablaze.
Vocabulary:
1. Seth's (શેઠ) - a wealthy merchant or businessman
2. Ghee (ઘી) - clarified butter, used in cooking and worship
3. Fruit (ફળ) - sweet and fleshy produce of plants
4. Sweets (મિઠાઈ) - sweet dishes or desserts
5. Corn (મકાઈ) - a type of grain
6. Grinding (પીસવ)ું - to crush or pulverize into smaller pieces
7. Dal (દાળ) - lentils, a type of pulse
8. Damp (ભીનુ) - slightly wet or moist
9. Ablaze (અગ્નિમા)ં - on fire, burning (metaphorically, Makor's hunger is intense)
10. Makor's (માકોર) - possibly a name or Makor - Capricorn zodiac sign
11. Hungry (ભૂખ્યા) - feeling the need for food
12. Belly (પેટ) - stomach, abdomen
Machine translation (chat gpt):
The Seth's house and Ram's temple have sweets, ghee, and fruits; they've given dal
to grind for tomorrow's offerings. She's grinding dal today. The dal is damp today,
and Makor's hungry belly is ablaze.
Vocabulary:
1. શેઠ - a wealthy merchant or businessman
2. ઘરે - house, home
3. રામને- belonging to Lord Ram
4. મંદિર- temple, place of worship
5. સાકર - sweets
6. ઘી - clarified butter
7. ફળ-fruits
8. ફરાળ - offerings, prasad
9. પાણામા - tomorrow
10. કાલ - tomorrow
11. ભજિયાં - offerings, prasad
12. દળવા - to grind
13. દાળ - lentils, pulses
14. દળાતી - being ground
15. હવાયેલ - damp, moist
16. ઊઠાડે - to ignite, to burn
17. માકોર - possibly a name or Makor (Capricorn zodiac sign)
18. પેટ - belly, stomach
19. વરાળ - ablaze, burning (metaphorically)
◇ Comparison :
The human and machine translations are similar, but have some differences. The
machine translation uses more formal words and phrases, like "The house of Seth"
and "festivals tomorrow". It also changes "Makor's hungry belly is ablaze" to "Makor's
stomach is burning", which loses some of the original intensity. Overall, both
translations mean the same thing, but the machine translation is more formal and
direct.
Gujarati poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”(sundaram):
અંગ થાકયું એનુ આચકા લેતું હૈડેહાફ ન માય,
બે પડ વચ્ચે દાળ દળે તેમ કાયા એની દળાય
દળી જો દાળ ના આપે રે
શઠે દમડી ના આપે રે
બીજો ઉપવાસ માકોરને થાય.
Human translation (Rita Kothari):
Her tired body is jerking her breath may not last,
She's the dal being ground between those millstones,
If the flour is not given,
No money will be given,
And makor will be fasting once again.
Vocabulary:
1. Jerking (ધક્કા મારવુ)- sudden, involuntary movements
2. Groans (છાતીમાં દર્દ હોવો) - low, guttural sounds of pain or discomfort
3. Dal (દાળ) - lentils, a type of pulse
4. Millstones (જોડિયા) - stones used for grinding grain
5. Flour (લોટ) - powder made from grinding grain
6. Fasting (ઉપવાસ) - abstaining from food and water.
Machine translation (chat gpt):
My body trembles with hunger, like dal (lentils) being ground between two millstones.
If you don't give me dal, oh merchant, I'll have to fast again, my body will weaken.
Vocabulary:
અંગ - body
થાક્યુ- trembles
આચકા - hunger
લેતું- taking
હૈડે- like
હાફ - half
ના - of
માય - my
બે- two
પડ - millstones
વચ્ચે- between
દાળ - dal (lentils)
દળે - being ground
તેમ - like
કાયા - body
એની - of
દળાય - being ground
દળી - ground
◇ Comparison:
The human translation of the Gujarati poem offers a more vivid and intense portrayal
of the situation, capturing the severity of hunger and fatigue with phrases like "Her
tired body jerking, her breathing comes in groans" and "She's the dal being ground
between those millstones." In contrast, the machine translation provides a more
literal interpretation, simplifying the metaphor and omitting specific details. While the
machine translation conveys the basic meaning, it lacks the emotional depth, poetic
flair, and cultural nuance of the human translation. The human translation also
preserves idiomatic expressions, such as "No money will be given" and "makor will
be fasting once again," which add to the overall impact of the poem. Overall, the
human translation provides a richer and more evocative rendering of the original text.
Gujarati poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”(sundaram):
ઘરર ઘરર આંજણહીણી ઘંટી ભારે થાય,
વારેવારે થાકેલ હાથથી ખીલડો છૂટી જાય ,
ચણાની દાળ તે દળતી રે,
માકોરની દેહ દળાતી રે,
ઘંટીના ઘોર તહીં ઘેરાય.
Human translation (Rita Kothari):
The creaking heavy millstone being to weigh a ton,
Peg slipping from her tired hand before the grinding's done.
As the grain goes around,
Makor's body goes around,
And sound of the grinding goes on.
Vocabulary:
1.Creaking (કરકરાટ) (adjective): making a harsh, high-pitched sound due to strain or
wear
2. Heavy (ભારે) (adjective): having a great weight or mass
3. Millstone (જોડિય)ું (noun): a large stone used for grinding grain
4.Weigh (વજન) (verb): to have a certain weight or mass
5.Ton (ટન) (noun): a unit of weight or mass
6.Peg (પેગ) (noun): a wooden or metal pin used to secure something
7.Slipping (ફસલાવુ)(verb): moving smoothly out of place
8.Tired (થાકેલ)ું (adjective): feeling weak or exhausted
9.Grinding (પીસવ)ું (verb): crushing or pulverizing something
10.Grain (દાણા) (noun): small hard seeds, especially those used as food
11.Makor (માકોર) (proper noun): likely a name or term used to address someone.
Machine translation (chat gpt):
The heavy millstone creaks and groans, weighing down with every turn, the peg slips
from the tired hand, and the chickpea dal is being ground, just like Makor's body is
being worn down, amidst the dark depths of the millstone's roar.
Vocabulary:
1. ઘરર - creaking, groaning sound
2. આંજણહીની - millstone
3. ઘંટી- millstone (another term)
4. ભારે - heavy
5. વારે - with every turn
6. થાકેલ - tired
7. ખીલડો - peg
Gujarati poem "ત્રણ પાડોશી" (Sundaram) :
અન્ન ખાતી તોય અન્નનો દાણો દેતી ઘંટી આજ,
માકોરની અન્નપૂર્ણા રૂઠી ફરવા પાડે ના જ,
હજી દાળ અરધી બાકી રે,
રહી ના રાત તો બાકી રે,
મથી મથી માકોર આવે વાજ.
Human translation (Rita kothari) :
The mill devours the grain,yet it gives out food for all.
Makor's Annapurna’s angry and the grain will not fall.
See half the grain is left ,
And half the night is left,
But makor cannot struggle any more.
Vocabulary:
1.Devours (verb) - લોપી લે (Lopi Le)
2. Annapurna (proper noun) - અન્નપૂર્ણા (Annpoorna)
3. Makor (proper noun) - મકોર (Makor)
4. Struggle (verb) - સંઘર્ષ (Sangharsh)
5. Grain (noun) - ધાન્ય (Dhaany)
6. Nourishment (noun) - પોષણ (Poshan)
7. Mill (noun) - જીણ (Jeern)
8. Left (verb) - રહે (Rahe)
Machine translation (chat gpt):
The millstone, which eats grain, still gives out grain, but Makor's Annapurna is angry
and won't let the grain fall. Half the dal is still left, and half the night is still left,
Makor can't struggle anymore, exhausted .
Vocabulary:
અન્ન (ann) - food, grain
ખાતી (khātī) - eats
દાણો (dāṇo) - grain
ઘટં ી (ghantī) - millstone
અન્નપર્ણા ૂ ર્ણા(annapūrṇā) - goddess of food and nourishment
રૂઠી (rūṭhī) - angry
ફરવા (farvā) - to let fall
દાળ (dāḷ) - lentils
અરધી (ardhī) - half
બાકી (bākī) - left, remaining
માકોર (mākōr) - likely a name or term used to address someone
મથી (mathī) - exhausted, tired
◇ Comparison :
The human translation "The mill devours the grain, yet it gives out food for all.
Makor's Annapurna's angry and the grain will not fall. See half the grain is left, And
half the night is left, But makor cannot struggle any more" is more vivid and poetic
than the machine translation "The mill consumes the grain, but it provides food for
everyone. Makor's Annapurna is angry, and the grain does not drop. Half of the grain
remains, and half of the night remains, but Makor cannot fight anymore". The human
translation uses more descriptive words like "devours" and "struggle", while the
machine translation uses simpler words like "consumes" and "fight". The human
translation also preserves idiomatic expressions and uses more evocative language,
creating a richer atmosphere.
Gujarati poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”(sundaram):
શેઠ જાગે તો રામજી જાગે, જાગે સૌ સંસાર ,
ભોમના ભાર ઉતારવા આજે જનમ્યા’તા કિરતાર,
પરોઢના જાગતા સાદે રે,
પંખીના મીઠડા નાદે રે,
ડૂબે માકોરનો ભૂખપોકાર.
Human translation (Rita Kothari) :
The seth and Ram are waking: whole world's calling ;
The burdens of the earth with the saviour's birth are falling.
Sound of the morning,
Birds twittering in the morning,
Drown out makor's hungry howl.
Vocabulary:
1. Seth (શેઠ) - a term used to address a person, similar to "mister" or "sir"
2. Ram (રામ) - a name, also a reference to the Hindu god Lord Rama
3. Burdens (ભાર) - heavy loads or responsibilities
4. Saviour (તારણહાર) - a person who saves or rescues others
5. Twittering (ટ્વિટરિંગ) - making short, high-pitched sounds, like birds
6. Drown (ડબી ૂ જાય) - to overpower or overwhelm a sound
Machine translations (chat gpt):
When Seth wakes up, Ramji wakes up, and the whole world wakes up. Today, the
creator is born to lift the burdens of the earth. The sounds of morning, the sweet
melodies of birds, drown out Makor's hungry cries.
Vocabulary:
શેઠ- a term used to address a person, similar to "mister" or "sir"
રામજી - a name, also a reference to the Hindu god Lord Rama
જાગે(jage) - to wake up
સૌ સંસાર - the whole world
ભોમના ભાર - the burdens of the earth
ઉતારવા - to lift or remove
કિરતાર - creator or God
પરોઢ - morning
પંખી - birds
મીઠડાં - sweet or melodious
નાદ - sound or music
ડૂબે - to drown out
માકોર- likely a name or term used to address someone
ભૂખપોકાર - hungry cries or howls
◇ Comparison:
The human translation is more poetic and nuanced, using vivid language like "the
whole world's calling" and "drown out makor's hungry howl" to convey a sense of
urgency and desperation. In contrast, the machine translation is more literal and
straightforward, losing the poetic nuance and rhythm of the original text. While the
machine translation conveys the basic meaning, it lacks the emotional resonance
and evocative power of the human translation, which preserves the poetic structure
and rhythm to create a more engaging and immersive experience.
Gujarati poem “ત્રણ પાડોશી”(sundaram):
શેઠ હસે બેઠા આઠમે માળે, રામ રમે રણવાસ,
રામને મંદિર ઝાલર બાજે, શેઠને મહેલ હુલાસ,
માકોરની મુરછા ટાણે રે,
ઘંટીના મોતના ગાણે રે,
કાળો એક નાગ કરેરે નિસાસ.
Human translation (Rita Kothari):
Ram in his forest dwelling ; the seth
in his palace home,
Temple gongs and trumpet sounds
of revelry are blown.
Makor faints to her death,
The millstone sings of death,
A lone black crow laments her gone.
Vocabulary:
1. Ram (રામ) - name, also a reference to the Hindu god Lord Rama
2. Seth (શેઠ) - a term used to address a person, similar to "mister" or "sir"
3. Palace (મહેલ ) - a grand building or residence
4. Temple (મંદિર) - a place of worship
5. Gongs (ઘટં ) - metal instruments that produce a ringing sound
6. Trumpet (સંગીત નું સાધન) - a musical instrument
7. Reverly (ભક્તિભાવ) - devotion or reverence
8. Makor (માકોર) - likely a name or term used to address someone
9. Faints (મૂર્છા - to fall into a state of unconsciousness
10. Millstone (ગોળ પથ્થર) - a stone used for grinding grain
11. Laments (વિલાપ કરે) - to express sorrow or grief
12. Crow (કાગડો) - a black bird
Machine translation (chat gpt):
The Seth laughs sitting on the eighth floor, Ram plays in the forest, The temple bell
tolls for Ram, The palace resounds with joy for the Seth, Makor's fainting is
accompanied by the millstone's song of death, A lone black crow laments her
demise.
Vocabulary:
1. શેઠ- a term used to address a person
2. રામ - name, also a reference to the Hindu god Lord Rama
3. મંદિર - temple
4. મહેલ- palace
5. માકોર - likely a name or term used to address someone
6. ઘંટી- millstone
7. ઝાલર - bell
8. કાળો - black
9. નાગ - crow
10. મુરછા- fainting or unconsciousness
◇ Comparison:
The human translation is more poetic and nuanced, using phrases like "forest
dwelling" and "palace home" to create a sense of contrast between Ram and Seth's
environments. It also uses more vivid language, such as "Temple gongs and trumpet
sounds of reverly" to convey a sense of reverence and ceremony. In contrast, the
machine translation might read more straightforwardly, such as "Ram is in the forest,
Seth is in the palace. Temple bells and trumpets sound. Makor dies. The millstone
sings of death. A black crow mourns her." The machine translation loses some of the
poetic flair and emotional resonance of the human translation, instead focusing on
conveying the basic meaning of the text.
To illustrate the differences between human and machine translation, let's take a look at the translation process itself. The following diagram highlights the distinct approaches used by humans and machines to translate text, revealing the complexities and nuances that set human translation apart.
● Machine translation faithful to human translation? Write your
experience in short paragraph (take the help of translating poem) .
Ans.-
Machine translation is not always faithful to human translation. When I attempted to
machine-translate the Gujarati poem, I noticed significant losses in nuance and
cultural context. For instance, the line "માકોર
રહી ભુખી નકોરડી કાયામાં ન રહ્યો સાસ" was
translated to a literal "The Makor remained hungry, no breath remained in the weak
body." However, a human translator would capture the poetic intent, rendering it as
"The Makor's hunger remained unsatisfied, her frail body devoid of vitality." This
highlights the limitations of machine translation in replicating the emotional
resonance and cultural essence of human translation.
VS
●Is it interesting to compare both versions (human and machine
translation) if yes why, and if no then why?
Ans.-
Yes! Comparing human and machine translations is indeed interesting and valuable.
It highlights the strengths and limitations of each approach, showcasing the nuances
and complexities of language. By examining both versions side by side, we can gain
a deeper understanding of the original text's intent, tone, and cultural context. I've
personally seen this when translating the Gujarati poem "ત્રણ પાડોશી" - the machine
translation lacked the emotional resonance and cultural essence that a human
translator captured. This comparison also underscores the importance of human
translators' expertise and the need for continued improvement in machine translation technology.
As aptly said by Arle Richard Lommel an expert in the field of translation,
" Machine translation displace Only those humans who translate like machines. "
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Nice work dear keep it up 👍👏👏
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DeleteGood work dear
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