From Tears to Pearls…
FROM TEARS TO PEARLS: A COMPILATION
OF TRANSLATED POETRY OF
QUERUBIN FERNANDEZ
A Research Proposal
Presented to
Dr. Mildred M. Crisostomo
In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
Degree Master of Arts in Education Major in English by
Diza C. Lingat
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From Tears to Pearls…
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
There is perhaps no department of literature which has been less the object of cultivation
than the Art of Translating (Tytler, 1907). In the initial years of the post-war era, Translation is
considered to be under the canopy of Comparative Literature and Applied Linguistics (Hornby,
et. al 1994). Due to its dynamism and interdisciplinary nature, translators are rendered difficulty
and constraints in performing the art.
At present, the art of translation is of greater importance than it was during the early post-
war era, in the same extent that the great mass of ancient and of modern literature accumulated
up to the present times, and bears to the general stock of learning in the most enlightened periods
of antiquity.
It is by the virtue of translation that a work of art particularly of that of literature are
granted immortality in the logic that translation allows a text to transcend its own time and reach
even the farthest of time and space as explained in Walter Benjamin’s essay, The Task of a
Translator.
Translation in its most basic sense is the process of rendering a text from one language to
another (Merriam-Webster). However, the process translation is not as simple as just serving a
text from one language to another for it entails a lot of consideration. John. Cunnison Catford
proposed in his book, A Linguistic Theory of Translation, that translation is concerned with a
relation between languages therefore it must be guided by the principles of Linguistics. Catford
(1965) proposes, “Translation is an operation performed on languages: a process of substituting a
text in one language for a text in another. Clearly, then, any theory of translation must draw upon
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From Tears to Pearls…
a theory of language— a general linguistic theory.” Here, the general linguistic theory mainly
indicates M.A.K. Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics.
Anthony Pym and Alexander Perekrestenko (2007) from Universitat Rovira i Virgili wrote
in their Translation of Research Project 1, a compilation, a more technical definition of
Translation: “Translation is a controlled transfer of information—including, but not restricted to
meaning—from a source text, producing a target text in another language.” It shows that the
translator is not at liberty in performing translation for the process is controlled and restricted to
the meaning of the source text. Hence, the process of translation situates the translator in a battle
between fidelity and liberty. There is a Russian axiom that states that if a translation is beautiful,
it is not faithful, and if it is faithful, it is not beautiful. It is for this reason that translation
activities are anchored in “situational thinking”. The task of the translator is to capture that
meaning of the original and make it relevant to the present. A Translation should give a complete
transcript of the ideas of the original work—Knowledge of the language of the original, and
acquaintance with the subject.
From the perspective of Peter Newmark emphasizing on text analysis said that there is no
only one meaning in a text and it is in fact abundant. According to him, “Translation, often,
though not by any means always, is rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the
way that the author intended the text” (Newmark, 1988, 2001, p.5). He puts it that translating,
with focus on the text, should begin with a detailed analysis of a text, such as the intention of the
text and of the translator, its readership, attitude, to name just a few. Moreover, Newmark also
defines translation as “a craft consisting in the attempt to replace a written message and/or
statement in one language by the same message and/or statement in another language”
(Newmark, 1982, 2001, p.7).
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However, the process of translation situates the translator in a battle between fidelity and
liberty. There is a Russian axiom that states that if a translation is beautiful, it is not faithful, and
if it is faithful, it is not beautiful. It is for this reason that translation activities are anchored in
“situational thinking”. The task of the translator is to capture that meaning of the original and
make it relevant to the present. A Translation should give a complete transcript of the ideas of
the original work—Knowledge of the language of the original, and acquaintance with the
subject.
Having the issue of fidelity and liberty in translation, the Translation principle of J. B.
Philipps which is Paraphrasetic is considered to be banking on the ideas presented by Gregory
Rabassa in his article, No Two Snowflakes are Alike, in which he views translation as not
producing an equivalent text of the original in a different language. According to Rabassa, all
objects, alive or otherwise, are thoroughly individual in spite of close resemblances and there is
no equivalence in translation.
Though not all works need to be translated, translatability is an essential quality of certain
works, which is not to say that it is essential for the works themselves that they be translated.
The utility of translations is universally felt, and therefore there is a continual demand for
them. But this very circumstance has thrown the practice of translation into mean and mercenary
hands. It is a profession which may be exercised with a very small portion of genius or abilities.
"It seems to me," says Dryden, "that the true reason why we have so few versions that are
tolerable, is, because there are so few who have all the talents requisite for translation, and that
there is so little praise and small encouragement for so considerable a part of learning," as
accounted in Ovid's Epistles.
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From Tears to Pearls…
In this study/work of translation, the researcher will attempt to translate Querubin
Fernandez Jr. y Dayrit’s finely written poetry on the joy and pain of the different facets of love
compiled in his poetry book, “Bakas Panas.” The researcher shall employ the socio-cultural
approach under the canopy of Hermeneutics to interpret the meanings in the texts. In the
translation process, the researcher will employ the literary translation and paraphrasetic
approach.
Conceptual Framework
Fernandez’s
Selected Poetry
Hermeneutics No Two
Literary Translation
Socio-cultural Snowflakes
Paraphrasetic
Approach Are Alike
Translated
Text
Objective of the Study
The researcher’s main purpose is to conduct a translation study of select poems of
Querubin D. Fernandez in his poetry book, Bakas Panas.
Specifically it seeks to answer the following questions:
1. What is the dominant theme of the selected poems?
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2. How may the select poems be interpreted using socio-cultural approach?
3. How may the select poems be translated paraphrasetically employing literary
translation?
pread the exquisiteness of Kapampangan Literature and for it to gain wider scope of readership.
Through the translation of Querubin Fernandez’s selected poetries in Bakas Panas into English,
Kapampangan Poems may transcend their own time and space and be relevant even to the
modern-day readers and literature enthusiasts. More so, this translation studies will serve as a
vehicle in unveiling the beauty of Kapampangan Poetry through its translatability. The paper
shall also intend to exemplify that there is no absolute translation especially with literary texts
considering the context of the text and the distinct nuances of each language.
Significance of the Study
Teachers of Literature:
Students of Literature:
Researchers:
Scope and Delimitation
The researcher shall only translate nine (9) poems of Querubin Fernandez which are
found in the third chapter of his book, Bakas Panas. The chapter titled, Kapalsintan, contains
nine poems reflecting the multifaceted nature and the universality of Love. The translator will
apply the Literary Translation Approach of Peter Newmark and the Paraphrasetic Method of J.
B. Philipps in line with the employment of Hermeneutics as a qualitative research approach. The
translation process will bank on Gregory Rabassa’s theory that there is no equivalence in
translation only an approximation.
Definition of Terms
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Translation. It is a controlled transfer of information—including, but not restricted to meaning
—from a source text, producing a target text in another language (Pym, 2007).
Hermeneutics.
Socio-cultural Approach.
Paraphrasetic Approach.
Source Language Text.
Target Language Text.
Source Text.
Target Text.
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Chapter 2
METHOD
This chapter discusses the research design, literary text, author, and literary approach that will
be employed in the study.
Research Design
The researcher will conduct a translation study which is specifically under the canopy of
Literary Research. Moreover, she will also employ qualitative research method specifically
Hermeneutics to further deepen the study and become a basis for the translation of the poems.
Before a translator can translate a source text into the target text, she shall first analyze and
interpret the meaning of the text which falls under the discipline of Hermeneutics.
What is essential to this stage of the analysis is maintaining, as far as possible, a certain
degree of objectivity. To claim that a study such as this one is—or even could be—entirely
impartial would be untrue. As Chang points out, absolute objectivity in observation is
impossible, as one always observes from a cultural or historical context (2001: 328). However,
by recognizing that observations are bound to be influenced by one’s background and
sociocultural context, one can strive to reduce subjectivity as much as possible.
After analyzing and interpreting the text, the translator will embark to the process of
translation where she will apply the Translation principles of J. B. Philipps which is
Paraphrasetic. It is considered to be banking on the ideas presented by Gregory Rabassa in his
article, No Two Snowflakes are Alike, in which he views translation as not producing an
equivalent text of the original in a different language. According to Rabassa, all objects, alive or
otherwise, are thoroughly individual in spite of close resemblances and there is no equivalence in
translation.
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Considering that the study will translate literary texts in the form of poetry, there will be
employment of the principles of Literary translation. Every literary text is linked to the literary
and culture and tradition of the language in which it is written. Sentences in it are very intimately
bound up with the very nature of the language and have their roots deep in the life and habits of
the people. Words are very rich in their connotative meaning. In addition to the explicit meaning,
a literary text contains implicit and suggested meaning, which is equally important. The
translator has to be prepared for every possible meaning.
A literary translator has his responsibility both to his author and to his readers. On the
other hand, he has to be faithful to the original with respect to its form, meaning and style and
spirit. He has to make sure that his translation is in conformity with the linguistic and literary
tradition of the target language. Thus the responsibility of the translator working with a literary
text is in many was greater than that of any other translator. He seems as an agent through whom
great works of literature pass through the linguistic and cultural barriers.
The Poet and His Works
With his works of poetry compiled and published in three books, Querubin D. Fernandez,
Jr. proved to be an established Capampangan Poet who was awarded as a Poet Laureate in
recognition to his exemplary contribution in the canon of Capampangan Literature.
Fernandez was born in Manila on January 30, 1936. His father died when he was just a
year old. His life was a constant struggle, but obviously, it is a life well-lived.
His writing talent surfaced at the age of 15 when his teacher praised him on an essay he wrote
entitled “Christmas.”
He was a university scholar at the Far Eastern University but it was at the Angeles
University Foundation (AUF) where he completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
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in Education. He taught English and Literature for two years at the same university and was
Editor-In-Chief of The Pioneer, the university’s school organ.
Fernandez was co-founder and editor of Ing Sala; Managing Editor of Ing Siwala and The Voice;
and wrote for various local newspapers.
Some of his literary works have found their way in national and international
publications. Among these are: “Let there Be Peace” which was reprinted in “Anthology on
World Brotherhood and Peace,” and “The Search for Peace” which appeared in the 1994 and
1997 editions of “Parnassus of World Poets” published in Madras, India.
What is noteworthy is his inclusion in the 1994 and 1997 editions of “The International
Who is Who in Poetry and Poets Encyclopedia” published in Cambridge, England. He is a
recipient of a string of literary awards in the local scene. Among these are the 1983 Most
Outstanding Alumnus in Literature – Angeles University Foundation, and 1996 Outstanding
Mabalaqueno in Arts and Culture – Mabalacat, Pampanga.
“Aku at Ing Balen,” a poem in six stanzas, each stanza having six lines, and each line
having 16 syllables won second prize in the Don Gonzalo Puyat Memorial Awards for
Pampango Literature in 1980. His entry in the short story category won first prize.
“Amanung Siswan,” a poem in twelve stanzas, each stanza having six lines, and each line having
eighteen syllables, seldom used in Capampangan because it is a medium for the profound and
sublime, won first prize in the 1990 Aldo Ning Kapampangan Poetry Contest.
His works of poetry have been compiled in three books – Bulung Dutung published in
1982, “Yamut Dikut” published in 1991, and “Bakas Panas” published in 1997.
Bakas Panas, an anthology of a hundred of his Capampangan poems is a jewel of prose.
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Savoring the poems, one would easily get a generous glimpse of the poet’s soul, his feverish
moments with the pen, and a whiff of his germane brilliance. He treats poetry as a deep
emotional experience.
The ephemeral beauty of the Capampangan language he used, the daintiness of his
flowing, lyrical prose, the seductive allure of his thoughts produced in broad range are a
testament to Fernandez’s passion to continue the legacy left behind by pillars of Capampangan
literature.
The themes of his deeply-felt poetry, from love of God, country and fellowmen, appeal to
the common reader. He articulates eloquently simple approaches to social realities, never losing
touch with his rural origins that cradled him.
Fernandez is married to the former Victoria Talens and they have four children – Eddie,
Joy, April and Querubin III or Robin. Robin was killed in Baguio City in 1996 at the age of 18.
It is in his murdered son’s memory that Bakas Panas was written. The selected poems
capture the universality of love in the third chapter titled, Kapalsintan.
Data Collection
The researcher, first will ask for the consent of the kin of the late Kapampangan Poet,
Querubin Fernadez y Dayrit to translate some of his poetry published in his book, Bakas Panas.
Translation Process
Ethical Considerations
The following ethical guidelines will be observed throughout the research period to ensure
that the study is devoid of infringement and other forms of moral discrepancies. The researcher
shall ask for consent to translate the selected poems of Querubin Fernandez, in his book, Bakas
Panas, from his kin. After the initial translation process, outputs shall be subject to scrutiny and
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evaluation of an expert in the field of translation with specialization in the Kapampangan and
English language. He shall conduct backward translation so as to manifest if the English output
are as closely alike as the source text in Kapampangan. Lastly, the translator shall not take any
acclaim on the copyright of the selected poetry other than the credit of translating the chosen
poems.
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