Blog by Emily Dicker, Creative Translation Ambassador at the Queen’s Translation Exchange (QTE)
Since training as a QTE Creative Translation Ambassador in my first year at Queen’s, I have delivered workshops from both German and Galician in local Oxford schools. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of sharing my love for all-things-language with blossoming linguists and so, when I found myself with two months free of class on my year abroad at the University of Coimbra, I thought: what better way to spend my time then take the workshop international!
Having come across the amazing work of the Casa da Esquina, a creative organisation which runs a diverse range of projects with the local community of Coimbra and neighbouring areas, I pitched my idea: a creative translation workshop of a Galician sea shanty into Portuguese. As well as adapting the language, I also opted to extend the workshop into two sessions, introducing a further element of “creative translation” from word to image. Or rather, after translating the lyrics of the song, the students participating would then produce an illustrated version of their verse.
Having come across the amazing work of the Casa da Esquina, a creative organisation which runs a diverse range of projects with the local community of Coimbra and neighbouring areas, I pitched my idea: a creative translation workshop of a Galician sea shanty into Portuguese.
Having successfully organised a month-long residency with the wonderful team at the Casa da Esquina, I had the pleasure of working with three classes in two different schools, the Escola da Lousã and the Escola Martim de Freitas in Coimbra. All students participating got fully involved in every task presented and, by the end of each session, every group was up performing their translated lyrics to a melody (or rhythm) of their choosing! After each session, I collated all the materials produced by the students into an individual, hand-made book for each class, complete with translation, illustrations, and an audio recording of the entire song. Although it was challenging for me to weave stories of popcorn-eating ducks, existential dreams, rain-soaked princesses, and a talking pencil-friend into coherent stories, I couldn’t be prouder of the creativity and enthusiasm shown by each and every student and I hope that they are equally as proud with the books upon receiving them.
At the same time, I also ran a one-off workshop with the choir of the Associação Há Baixa, translating the same Galician sea shanty into Portuguese. Although it was somewhat intimidating to begin a workshop, translating from a language which is not my own into another language which is also not my own, with a group of forty adults (whose first language was one of the languages we were using!), I found the different point of view to be fascinating and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. I’m now hoping to be invited, virtually, to the concert in which they sing both original and translated versions of Uxía Lambona e a Banda Molona’s Catro vellos mariñeiros.
After each session, I collated all the materials produced by the students into an individual, hand-made book for each class, complete with translation, illustrations, and an audio recording of the entire song…. I couldn’t be prouder of the creativity and enthusiasm shown by each and every student.
The warmest of thanks to Sandra, Filipa, and the rest of the lovely Casa da Esquina team, as well as Catarina Pires at the Associacao Há Baixa for trusting in me and allowing me this wonderful opportunity. Beijinhos a todos!
Thank you, as well, to the wonderful QTE team who helped me to create the workshop back in first year and without whose work I would never have had this opportunity. It was a pleasure to take a part of Oxford to Portugal and share my love for translation and art with a wider audience. Next stop, Bamberg?!
