• Wed 10 Mar 2021 23:01
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    Sma grodorna in English

    I have tried to translate Sma grodorna to English.
    This is a result:
    stihi.ru/2021/03/10/8000
    What do you think about my translation?

    The little frogs, the little frogs
    Are funniest to see.
    No ears, no ears,
    No tails have they got.

    The little pigs, the little pigs
    Are funniest to see.
    Two ears, two ears
    And tiny tails have they.

    The elephants, the elephants
    Are funniest to see.
    Big ears, big ears
    And also trunks have they.

    In the phrase
    "No tails have they got"
    the word tails is singing as ta-ails.

  • Svar på tråden Sma grodorna in English
  • Wed 10 Mar 2021 23:27
    #1
    +1

    Svårt att sjunga på engelska; försök med typ ?small froggies, small froggies? eller nåt liknande.

  • Thu 11 Mar 2021 11:23
    #2
    Thank you very much for your comment!
    I think that "Small froggies"  is indefinite form and is not consistent with "grodorna"
    On the other case, there is a translation in wiki with "the little frogs".
    I think that somebody can sing "the"


    The little frogs, the little frogs are funny to observe.
    The little frogs, the little frogs are funny to observe.No ears, no ears, no tails do they possess.No ears, no ears, no tails do they possess.The little pigs, the little pigs are funny to observe.The little pigs, the little pigs are funny to observe.Both ears, both ears and tails do they possess.Both ears, both ears and tails do they possess.

    I do not like words "observe" and "possess". I think that these words have another meaning in comparison with the swedish text.
  • Thu 11 Mar 2021 11:44
    #3

    Probably, it is reasonably to use "watch" instead of "see"? Or watch is used only for TV?

  • Thu 11 Mar 2021 11:44
    #4

    Probably, it is reasonably to use "watch" instead of "see"? Or watch is used only for TV?

  • Thu 11 Mar 2021 14:44
    #5
    +1

    I would say 'små grodorna' is not really correct grammar either, it would have to be 'de små grodorna'. But you cannot be totally correct in a song that is supposed to rime, in either language.

  • Magica­l
    Thu 11 Mar 2021 15:00
    #6
    +1
    AlexanderFionov skrev 2021-03-10 23:01:33 följande:

    I have tried to translate Sma grodorna to English.
    This is a result:
    stihi.ru/2021/03/10/8000
    What do you think about my translation?

    The little frogs, the little frogs
    Are funniest to see.
    No ears, no ears,
    No tails have they got.

    The little pigs, the little pigs
    Are funniest to see.
    Two ears, two ears
    And tiny tails have they.

    The elephants, the elephants
    Are funniest to see.
    Big ears, big ears
    And also trunks have they.

    In the phrase
    "No tails have they got"
    the word tails is singing as ta-ails.


    "funniest" is not what we sing in Swedish. Since you seem to think out is important with correct grammar on there things, this surprises me. 

    and the word order is not correct in English:  Tiny tails have they  ( Tiny tails they have) 
    same with the trunks 
  • Thu 11 Mar 2021 15:20
    #7

    There is direct word order and inverse.
    I used inverse order.
    Concerning "funniest" I agree that swedish text is different. But I have to put words into required rhythm, and it is not possible usually to translate word-to-word.

  • Fri 12 Mar 2021 15:47
    #8
    +1

    Jag tycker inte sången blev sångbar. Och personligen tycker jag inte att texten varken fångar känsla, eller text.

    bilingualbymusic.com/frogsong-at-midsummer/

    Jag gillade "The Tiny frogs"- varianten. Just för att den uppenbarligen gick att sjunga.

  • Sat 13 Mar 2021 21:08
    #9

    Thank you very much for your opinion. I shall think about the improvement. Anyway, I have already an orchestration for Sma grodorna, and think to record three versions: in Swedish, in Russian and in English.

  • Sun 14 Mar 2021 01:00
    #10

    Elephants? Where on earth did you find them? 

  • Sun 14 Mar 2021 06:29
    #11
    AlexanderFionov skrev 2021-03-13 21:08:55 följande:

    Thank you very much for your opinion. I shall think about the improvement. Anyway, I have already an orchestration for Sma grodorna, and think to record three versions: in Swedish, in Russian and in English.


    How did you translate it into Russian?
  • Fri 19 Mar 2021 00:36
    #12
    Guldnovan skrev 2021-03-14 01:00:26 följande:

    Elephants? Where on earth did you find them? 


    I know that there is third verse about elephants. 
  • Fri 19 Mar 2021 00:36
    #13
    Guldnovan skrev 2021-03-14 01:00:26 följande:

    Elephants? Where on earth did you find them? 


    I know that there is third verse about elephants. 
  • Fri 19 Mar 2021 00:37
    #14
    Aliona skrev 2021-03-14 06:29:03 följande:
    How did you translate it into Russian?
    You can find my translation here stihi.ru/2019/09/26/341
Svar på tråden Sma grodorna in English