This was incredible to read! I will see if I can find a copy of Heaney’s Beowulf sometime soon. Can’t wait to get into that world as a lover of linguistics myself 😁
Thank you so much! I’m currently working on a translation of “The Dream of the Rood” which I should publish by the weekend - the first sentences are above - hopefully I do it justice 🤞
Great article. I read Beowulf in school and have a casual interest in linguistics. In translating poetry, there's more than just semantic meaning, but the vibe too, if you will.
I think another line on how we're defining alliterative verse would have helped me. In your example, are we referring the alliteration of:
Danes -> Days
Kings -> Courage -> Greatness
Heard -> Heroic
Is there a rule to where in the meter the alliteration is located, or does it just matter to have two or more similar-sound beginnings in the line?
Thank you! Great question, so the alliteration needs to occur before and after the cesura (the break in the lines).
Sally rests peacefully So does Jack.
In old English there is always a break within the line and then the alliteration falls either side. Usually it’s the exact letter but on occasion it’s the sound.
This was incredible to read! I will see if I can find a copy of Heaney’s Beowulf sometime soon. Can’t wait to get into that world as a lover of linguistics myself 😁
Thank you so much! I’m currently working on a translation of “The Dream of the Rood” which I should publish by the weekend - the first sentences are above - hopefully I do it justice 🤞
Great article. I read Beowulf in school and have a casual interest in linguistics. In translating poetry, there's more than just semantic meaning, but the vibe too, if you will.
I think another line on how we're defining alliterative verse would have helped me. In your example, are we referring the alliteration of:
Danes -> Days
Kings -> Courage -> Greatness
Heard -> Heroic
Is there a rule to where in the meter the alliteration is located, or does it just matter to have two or more similar-sound beginnings in the line?
Thank you! Great question, so the alliteration needs to occur before and after the cesura (the break in the lines).
Sally rests peacefully So does Jack.
In old English there is always a break within the line and then the alliteration falls either side. Usually it’s the exact letter but on occasion it’s the sound.
I see, I think the caesura was less evident in the translated version. Thanks!
Yes awesome point, usually translators will take the emphasis out to make it a bit more “modern”.