Linguistics and Literature Studies Vol. 4(5), pp. 348 - 354
DOI: 10.13189/lls.2016.040506
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From Thai Country Songs to German Singable Lyrics: Creative Translation in Foreign Language Teaching

Korakoch Attaviriyanupap ^*
Department of German, Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University, Thailand

ABSTRACT

Translating song lyrics between two typologically and phonologically different languages requires not only language competency in both source and target languages, but also creativity and problem solving skills, especially when the translated version has to be singable along with the original melody. This paper presents results of an analysis of problems found in the process of translating Thai country songs into German and how this kind of "creative" translation can be made useful in the teaching process of German as a foreign language. Translation problems found can be divided into 7 categories: a deficit in German language skills; a deficit in Thai language skills; differences between the two language systems; the problems of conveying the entire message in the original text; differences between the two cultures; the problems of translating repetitions, and the problems of selecting German words and linguistic structures which are appropriate for singing. These findings can contribute to the teaching of translation of this music genre into German and can be applied to other song genres of other source languages. Translated song lyrics can also be used as materials in various classes of German as a foreign language.

KEYWORDS
Creative Translation, Thai Country Songs, German, Foreign Language Teaching

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Korakoch Attaviriyanupap , "From Thai Country Songs to German Singable Lyrics: Creative Translation in Foreign Language Teaching," Linguistics and Literature Studies, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 348 - 354, 2016. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2016.040506.

(b). APA Format:
Korakoch Attaviriyanupap (2016). From Thai Country Songs to German Singable Lyrics: Creative Translation in Foreign Language Teaching. Linguistics and Literature Studies, 4(5), 348 - 354. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2016.040506.