Multilingual Translation Workshop

Multilingual Translation Workshop 2013

The Hopkins Festival - each year during the last week of July since 1987

An innovative experiment

This multilingual translation workshop is an effort to focus on the inspirational poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, an effort to identify what is his enduring fascination for people of all languages, cultures and backgrounds.

How it Works

Each year, a short Hopkins poem is selected. Visitors are invited to download a copy and attempt to translate the poem (or, some of it!) into their language. We now have Hopkins translated into German, into German, even into Yiddish! Everyone participating in this innovative Worksop will appreciate your insights or questions about this poem. Visitors from many different linguistic groups explore Hopkins poetry in unique Multilingual Translation Workshop at Newbridge College, each year, during the last week in July.

The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival has developed this unique Multilingual Workshop, part of its annual celebration of the poetry and artistic pursuits of Victorian poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Since our Festival attracts visitors from all over the world, enthusiasts for Hopkins and his poetry, it seemed reasonable to tap into this multilingual, multicultural rich ressource to further deepen understanding and appreciation of Hopkins's poetry. This is what inspired out Multicultural Translation Workshop.

This is How it Works

Each year, the Committee select one Hopkins poem for examination. Ideally, before arrival in Monasterevin, our visitors attempt a version of Hopkins in their own language(s). The Workshop is ably directed by a Hopkins enthusiast, a linguist. The Workshop attracts visitors of all cultures and all backgrounds from scholars who share their insights to participants in the Youth Programme.

After a three-hour Workshop, most participants feel that, at the very least, they understand one Hopkins poem better than they ever imagined possible. In 2009, our Multilingual Workshop was very abley directed by Aledsandra Kedzierska and we had wonderful participation from visitors from Japan, Korea, Germany, Croatia, France, Czech Republic ... and of course, Ireland.

Multicultural, multilingual and infinitely enriching.

To R. B. (poem selected for 2013 Workshop)
German Translation of I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark
Spring and Fall Translations Carrion Comfort
No Worst there is None ... That Nature is a Heraclitean Fire
The Windhover
Felix Randall the Farrier
German Translation of I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark