Beoordelaars: Peter Louw en Helena Liebenberg

Wenners:
1.    Zandra Bezuidenhout. (“From baggage to luggage”)
2.    Annesu de Vos (“Bundles to baggage”)
      André Kotzé (“Garbage to baggage”)

Motivering by eerste plek

There can be little doubt that this translation should be the winning entry in this category. The fine qualities of the translation are apparent from the very beginning in the simple, yet subtle and effective title, with its rhyming baggage and luggage, implying a gradual transformation, a movement away from a mildly negative and perhaps disordered condition (baggage) to the more positive one (luggage).

In judging the translations we looked at the extent to which the translator had managed to achieve a balance between a faithful rendering of the source text on the one hand, and the literary qualities of the translation on the other. For we believe that the translation of a poem should, in fact, not be merely a true equivalent, but also a poem in its own right. We feel that the translator has admirably succeeded in attaining this goal.

Note the excellent, elegant rhythm (supported by well-placed punctuation) and full lines, the richness of sound and choice of words, and the skilful way in which the translator-poet has used rhyme to structure and bind his/her material. The word guarantee rhymes with various words throughout the translation, particularly at the end of lines (purity, dignity) but also within lines (clarity, nobility), thereby creating an inner resonance which holds the poem together. The ee -sound is indeed the major rhyming element, but this is supported by secondary rhymes such as reign, pain and sorrow, know. Bearing in mind that the source text uses rhyme, one should expect the winning poem also to utilise this effectively.

“From baggage to luggage” should be read aloud by an experienced reciter for the beauty and power of the lines to be appreciated. It is a worthy winner in this category.

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