There are four challenges to translating Estonian poetry into English.
First, trying to find the correct Estonian version of the poem. That is not as easy as one might think. Even the most famous poems are often misquoted. For example, the four famous lines from Kristjan Jaak Peterson's 1818 poem differ in the sources cited below.
Second, grasping the meaning of the poem as intended by the poet. Lots of different interpretations are not only possible but also probable.
What the poet intended to convey in the entire poem composed 200 years ago, in my opinion, was that Estonians yearned and deserved liberty and independence, same as other nations. Therefore, it is a propaganda lie by Russian historians today that Estonians in 1917-1918 did not want independence, they just wanted to be part an autonomous part of Russia and ruled by Russians.
Third, making a literal translation with the correct English words. Finding words with the right shade of meaning requires excellent knowledge of not only Estonian but also English. People may have lived in America for decades and still not have sufficiently deep knowledge of the English language.
Fourth, selecting the most appropriate English words for conveying the meaning intended by the poet.
Andrus Saareste; Kaunis Emakeel; page 10. Eesti Kirjanike Kooperatiiv, Lund, Rootsi, 1952. (1818 ORIGINAL):
Kas siis meie maa keel
Laulo tules ei woi
Taewani toustes ülles
Iggawust ommale otsida?
Arvo Mägi; Eesti Lüürika; page 13. Eesti Kirjanike Kooperatiiv; Lund 1958:
Kas siis selle maa keel
laulutules ei või
taevani tõustes üles
igavikku omale otsida?
O. Parlo, J. Aavik ja K. Mihkla; Eesti Kirjanduslugu; page 57. Kirjastus "Eddy"; UNRRA Heidenheim, Germany, 1949[?]:
Kas siis selle maa keel
laulutules ei või
taevani tõustes üles
igavikku endale otsida?
Põimik Koduluulet; UNRRA; Saksamaa; 1946:
Kas siis selle maa keel
laulutules ei või
taevani tõustes üles
igavikku omale otsida?
My translation, May 15, 2013:
Why then should not the language of our land
as the flame of song
rise up to the heavens
to seek eternity for itself?
Translation by Hillary Clinton, while a candidate for the Presidency, in a letter to JBANC [Joint Baltic American Committee] on February 4, 2008, in which she stated, "May the words that Estonian poet Kristjan Jaak Peterson wrote some two centuries ago continue to inspire …"
Cannot the tongue of this land
In the fire of incantation
Rising up to the heavens
Seek for eternity?
Why don’t you try to improve upon the two translation efforts above?
Alan Ago Koerv
