This Blog is a Part of Thinking Activity on Translation Studies Assigned by Dr. and Prof. Dilip Barad Sir (Head of Dept. of English MKBU).
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Introduction:-
This blog is based on Translation Studies and focuses on translating and analysing poetry through the use of Generative AI tools. Drawing inspiration from the Translation Studies Activity Worksheet Using Gen AI Tools for Translating Poems and the Guidelines for Using Generative AI in Translation Studies, the blog examines how AI can assist in poetic translation while encouraging critical evaluation. The activity involves translating poems using AI tools and analysing their outputs in terms of meaning, tone, rhythm, cultural context, and linguistic choices
Poem 1: Translate Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Urdu poem "Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat Mirii Mehboob Na Maang" into Hindi and English.
Poem 2: Translate W. B. Yeats's The Second Coming into Hindi and Gujarati.
Poem 3: Choose a Gujarati poem and translate it into Hindi and English.
Poem 4: Choose a Hindi poem and translate it into English and Gujarati
Poem 1: Translate Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Urdu poem "Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat Mirii
Original Language of the Poem
Hindi Translation(Chat GPT):
मुझसे पहली-सी मुहब्बत, मेरी महबूब, न माँग
मैंने समझा था कि तू है तो जीवन उज्ज्वल है,
तेरा ग़म है तो फिर दुनिया के दुख का क्या मोल है।
तेरी सूरत से ही इस जग में बहारों को ठहराव है,
तेरी आँखों के सिवा दुनिया में रखा ही क्या है।
तू मिल जाए तो तक़दीर भी झुक जाए मेरे सामने,
यही चाहा था मैंने—और कुछ भी नहीं माँगा था।
पर अब जान लिया है कि मोहब्बत के सिवा भी दुख हैं,
और भी राहतें हैं इस जहाँ में, केवल मिलन की नहीं।
अनगिनत सदियों के अँधेरे, वहशी जादू-टोने,
रेशम और मख़मल में लिपटी हुई वह ज़ुल्म की कहानियाँ।
गली-गली, बाज़ार-बाज़ार बिकते हुए इंसानी जिस्म,
ख़ून से नहाए हुए, धूल में रौंदे हुए।
बीमारियों की भट्टियों से निकले हुए शरीर,
पीप बहाते, सड़ते हुए घावों के ढेर।
अब नज़र उधर भी चली जाती है—क्या किया जाए?
तेरा हुस्न अब भी दिलकश है, मगर क्या किया जाए?
क्योंकि मोहब्बत के सिवा भी दुख हैं इस दुनिया में,
और भी सुख हैं, केवल मिलन के सुख के अलावा।
मुझसे पहली-सी मुहब्बत, मेरी महबूब, न माँग।
English Tanslation(Chat GPT):
Do not ask of me that old love again, my beloved
I once believed that if you existed, life would glow,
That if I had your sorrow, the world’s grief meant nothing.
From your face, I thought, all springtime took its stay,
Beyond your eyes, I believed, the world held nothing else.
If you were mine, even destiny would bow its head,
That was all I wished for—nothing more.
But now I know there are other sorrows besides love,
And other comforts than the comfort of union.
The dark, brutal spells of countless centuries,
Woven into silk, satin, and brocade.
Bodies sold everywhere—in streets and in bazaars,
Smeared with dust, bathed in blood.
Bodies dragged from the furnaces of disease,
Festering wounds, pus flowing from open sores.
My gaze now turns there too—what can be done?
Your beauty is still enchanting, yet what can be done?
For there are other sorrows in the world besides love,
And other pleasures than the pleasure of meeting.
Do not ask of me that old love again, my beloved.
Hindi Translation (Gemini AI):
मुझ से पहली सी मोहब्बत मेरी महबूब न मांग
मैं ने समझा था कि तू है तो दरख़्शां है हयात तेरा ग़म है तो ग़म-ए-दहर का झगड़ा क्या है तेरी सूरत से है आलम में बहारों को सबात तेरी आँखों के सिवा दुनिया में रक्खा क्या है
तू जो मिल जाए तो तक़दीर निगूँ हो जाए यूँ न था मैं ने फ़क़त चाहा था यूँ हो जाए
और भी दुख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा राहतें और भी हैं वस्ल की राहत के सिवा
अनगिनत सदियों के तारीक बहीमाना तिलिस्म रेशम-ओ-अतलस-ओ-कमख़्वाब में बुनवाए हुए जा-ब-जा बिकते हुए कूचा-ओ-बाज़ार में जिस्म ख़ाक में लिथड़े हुए ख़ून में नहलाये हुए
जिस्म निकले हुए अमराज़ के तन्नूरों से पीप बहती हुई गलते हुए नासूरों से
लौट जाती है उधर को भी नज़र, क्या कीजे? अब भी दिलकश है तेरा हुस्न, मगर क्या कीजे?
और भी दुख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा राहतें और भी हैं वस्ल की राहत के सिवा
मुझ से पहली सी मोहब्बत मेरी महबूब न मांग
English Translation (Gemini AI):
Do not ask of me, my love, that first love again.
I had thought that because of you, life was radiant; If I held your grief, the grief of the world would mean nothing. Your face brought permanence to the spring in the world; What else was there in the universe but your eyes?
If I found you, fate itself would bow before me. It was not so... I had merely wished it to be so.
There are other sorrows in this world besides the sorrow of love, There are other comforts besides the comfort of union.
Dark, beastly spells of countless centuries, Woven into silk, satin, and gold brocade. Bodies sold everywhere in the alleys and marketplaces, Smeared in dust, bathed in blood.
Bodies emerging from the ovens of disease, Pus flowing from rotting, festering wounds.
My gaze turns that way too, what can I do? Your beauty is still alluring, but what can I do?
There are other sorrows in this world besides the sorrow of love, There are other comforts besides the comfort of union.
Do not ask of me, my love, that first love again.
Poem 2: Translate W. B. Yeats's The Second Coming into Hindi and Gujarati.
Hindi Translation (Chat GPT):
द्वितीय आगमन
घूमते हुए फैलते वलय में
बाज़ नहीं सुनता बाज़नवाज़ की पुकार;
सब कुछ बिखर रहा है, केन्द्र टिकता नहीं,
निरा अराजकता संसार पर छा गई है।
रक्त–मिश्रित धारा मुक्त बह चली है,
हर ओर निर्दोषता की विधि डूब गई है;
श्रेष्ठ जन विश्वास–विहीन हैं,
निकृष्ट जन उन्मादी उत्साह से भरे।
निश्चय ही कोई प्रकाशन समीप है,
निश्चय ही दूसरा आगमन आने को है।
“दूसरा आगमन!”— कहते ही
स्पिरिटस मुंडी से
एक विराट आकृति मेरी दृष्टि हिला देती है:
मरुस्थल की रेत में कहीं
सिंह का धड़, मानव का मस्तक,
सूर्य–सा रिक्त, निर्दय दृष्टि वाला,
धीरे जाँघें हिलाता है,
और उसके चारों ओर
क्रुद्ध मरु–पक्षियों की छायाएँ घूमती हैं।
अंधकार फिर उतर आता है;
पर अब मैं जानता हूँ—
बीस शताब्दियों की पत्थर–सी नींद
पालने से हिलकर दुःस्वप्न बन गई थी;
और कौन–सा उग्र पशु,
जिसकी घड़ी आ पहुँची है,
बेथलहम की ओर लुढ़कता
जन्म लेने चला आ रहा है?
Gujarati Translation (Chat GPT):
બીજું આગમન
ફેલાતી વલયમાં ફરતો બાજ
બાજબંધીની પુકાર સાંભળી શકતો નથી;
બધું તૂટી રહ્યું છે, કેન્દ્ર ટકતું નથી,
નિરી અરાજકતા જગ પર છવાઈ ગઈ છે.
રક્તમિશ્રિત પ્રવાહ મુક્ત વહે છે,
દરેક તરફ નિર્દોષતાની વિધિ ડૂબી ગઈ છે;
સારા લોકો વિશ્વાસ ગુમાવે છે,
ખરાબ લોકો ઉગ્ર ઉત્સાહથી ભરાયા છે.
નિશ્ચિત કોઈ પ્રકાશન નજીક છે,
નિશ્ચિત બીજું આગમન થવાનું છે.
“બીજું આગમન!”— એમ કહું એટલામાં
સ્પિરિટસ મુન્ડીમાંથી
એક ભયાનક આકાર નજરને હચમચાવે છે:
રણની રેતમાં ક્યાંક
સિંહનું શરીર, માનવનું મસ્તક,
સૂર્ય જેવી ખાલી, નિર્દય દૃષ્ટિ,
ધીમે જાંઘો હલાવે છે,
અને તેની આસપાસ
ક્રોધિત રણપક્ષીઓની છાયાઓ ફરી રહી છે.
અંધકાર ફરી ઊતરે છે;
પણ હવે મને ખબર છે—
વીસ સદીઓની પથ્થર જેવી ઊંઘ
પાળણાથી હચમચી દુઃસ્વપ્ન બની હતી;
અને કયું ઉગ્ર પ્રાણી,
જેનો સમય આવી ગયો છે,
બેથલહેમ તરફ લથડતું
જન્મ લેવા આવી રહ્યું છે?
Hindi Translation (Gemini AI):
दूसरा आगमन
घूमते और घूमते हुए उस फैलते भंवर में बाज़ अपने मालिक की पुकार अब सुन नहीं सकता; चीजें बिखर रही हैं; केंद्र उन्हें थाम नहीं पा रहा; दुनिया पर महज़ अराजकता टूट पड़ी है, खून से सनी लहरें हर ओर बह निकली हैं, और हर जगह मासूमियत की रस्मों को डुबो दिया गया है; जो बेहतरीन लोग हैं, उनमें कोई विश्वास नहीं बचा, जबकि बदतरीन लोग एक जुनून और पागलपन से भरे हुए हैं।
यकीनन कोई दिव्य संकेत होने वाला है; यकीनन 'दूसरा आगमन' निकट है। दूसरा आगमन! अभी ये शब्द निकले ही थे कि 'स्पिरिटस मुंडी' (विश्व-आत्मा) की एक विशाल छवि मेरी आँखों के सामने उभर आती है: कहीं रेगिस्तान की रेत में शेर के शरीर और इंसान के सिर वाली एक आकृति, उसकी नज़रें शून्य और सूरज की तरह बेरहम हैं, वह अपनी भारी रानों को धीरे-धीरे हिला रही है, जबकि उसके चारों ओर नाराज़ रेगिस्तानी परिंदों के साये मँडरा रहे हैं।
फिर अंधेरा छा जाता है; लेकिन अब मैं जानता हूँ कि बीस सदियों की पत्थर जैसी गहरी नींद एक झूलते हुए पालने की वजह से डरावने सपने में बदल गई थी, और अब कौन सा भयानक जानवर, जिसका समय आखिरकार आ गया है, बैथलहम की ओर रेंग रहा है, जन्म लेने के लिए?
Gujarati Translation (Gemini AI):
બીજું આગમન
વધતા જતાં વર્તુળમાં ગોળ ગોળ ફરતાં, બાજ હવે તેના માલિકનો અવાજ સાંભળી શકતો નથી; વસ્તુઓ વિખેરાઈ રહી છે; કેન્દ્ર પકડ ગુમાવી રહ્યું છે; દુનિયા પર માત્ર અરાજકતા ફરી વળી છે, લોહીથી ખરડાયેલી ભરતી વછૂટી છે, અને સર્વત્ર નિર્દોષતાના સંસ્કારો ડૂબી ગયા છે; સજ્જનો શ્રદ્ધા ગુમાવી બેઠા છે, જ્યારે દુર્જનો તીવ્ર ઝનૂનથી છલકાઈ રહ્યા છે.
ચોક્કસ કોઈ દૈવી સાક્ષાત્કાર થવા પર છે; ચોક્કસ 'બીજું આગમન' નજીક છે. બીજું આગમન! હજુ તો આ શબ્દો બોલાયા છે ત્યાં જ 'સ્પિરિટસ મુંડી' (વિશ્વ-આત્મા) માંથી એક વિશાળ દ્રશ્ય મારી આંખોને વ્યથિત કરે છે: ક્યાંક રણની રેતીમાં સિંહ જેવું શરીર અને મનુષ્ય જેવું મસ્તક ધરાવતી એક આકૃતિ, જેની નજર શૂન્ય અને સૂર્ય જેવી નિર્દયી છે, તે તેના થાપા ધીમે ધીમે હલાવી રહી છે, જ્યારે તેની આસપાસ ક્રોધિત રણના પક્ષીઓના પડછાયા ભમી રહ્યા છે.
ફરી અંધકાર છવાઈ જાય છે; પણ હવે હું જાણું છું કે વીસ સદીઓની પથ્થર જેવી ગાઢ નિદ્રા એક ઝૂલતા પારણાને કારણે દુઃસ્વપ્નમાં બદલાઈ ગઈ હતી, અને હવે કયું વિકરાળ પશુ, જેનો સમય આખરે પાકી ગયો છે, બેથલહેમ તરફ પેટે ઘસડાઈ રહ્યું છે, જન્મ લેવા માટે?
Poem 3: Choose a Gujarati poem and translate it into Hindi and English.
The Poem વતનથી વિદાય થતા - જયંત પાઠક
Hindi Translation (Chat GPT):
वतन से विदा होते हुए
छूटा वह वन, छूटे वे जन,
बरसों में मिले जो पल–क्षण;
छूटे डोंगर, नदियाँ, खेत,
वतन के घाटी–आँगन, जन।
आँखें बार–बार मुड़ती रहीं,
भीड़ में वह घर बिकता गया,
पशु–सा कठोर सौदे में,
छूट गया सारा अपना धन।
पगडंडी आगे बढ़ती है,
पाँव उलझें—कैसे बढ़ पाऊँ?
आँखें भरतीं, राह किनारे
काँटों की डालियाँ चुभ जाएँ।
हृदय छिलता, रक्त रिसे,
धीमे–धीमे पीड़ा झरती;
दूर नदी की वक्र धार में
आज भी उँगलियाँ खेलतीं।
चलो जीव, आगे बढ़ना है,
समय–धारा में लौट न पाना;
ऊपरवासी राह अब बंद,
नेत्रों का जल पोंछ जाना।
क्यों ढोना बीते का बोझ,
अनकहे दुःख सिर पर लेना?
साथ चला जो श्वान यहाँ तक,
हद पूरी—अब लौट जाना।
दूर खेतों को देख उठा,
हाथ उठे—कोई पुकारे;
क्या यह केवल मेरा भ्रम है?
या माँ ही थी, जो पुकारे—
रिसते शिशु को बाहों में
अपने पास बुला ले जाए?
English Translation (Chat GPT):
Departing from the Homeland
Left behind the forest, left behind the people,
Moments gathered across many years;
Left the mountains, the rivers,
The valleys and the fields of home.
My eyes kept turning back again and again;
That house was sold in the crowd
Like cattle in a bitter bargain—
The herd abandoned.
The path moves forward,
My steps falter—how do I go on?
My eyes fill with tears;
Thorny branches of roadside trees wound me.
My heart is scraped raw,
Blood-cracks slowly seep;
Far away, in the river’s curves,
My fingers still seem to play.
Come, my soul, we must move ahead;
There is no return upstream
In this current of time.
Wipe the tears from your eyes;
Why carry the burden of the past,
Why endure unasked suffering?
Even the dog that walks beside me
Has reached its limit and must turn back.
From afar I see the fields,
Hands raised as if calling me—
Is it only my illusion?
Or was it my mother,
Calling her crying child?
English Translation (Gemini AI):
Departing from the Homeland
For long I stayed; at last, I leave this forest, hills, and stream, These fields and farms, the cattle-pen—all fading like a dream. I turn my feet towards the town, as time’s great currents flow, Like wood plucked from the river's bed, where'er the waters go.
I turn to look: the house is shut, the street is hushed and still, The faithful dog, my shadow once, now follows up the hill. But at the border-line he stops; he too must turn away— "No further can I come," he says, and ends his quiet stay.
The heavy eyes, the longing heart, the dust that clouds the sky, The mother’s hand that waves a veil—a blur before the eye. My feet are heavy, dragged along, like cattle sold for grain, Who turn their heads to find the stall, through hunger and through pain.
The path is lost in darkness now, the city lights appear, I leave my soul within the soil, and bring my body here.
Hindi Translation (Gemini AI):
वतन से विदाई
वे छोड़ दिए वन, छोड़ दिए जन, वर्षों बाद मिले जो क्षण, वे छोड़ दिए गिरिवर-सरिता, वतन के कोतर और वे खेत; आंखें दो तकतीं पीछे को, मुड़-मुड़ कर उस ओर अभी, तजता कोठार बिका पशु जैसे, तज दिया हमने भी गेह!
राह बढ़े आगे, पर पैर उल्टे, जैसे-तैसे उठते हैं; आंखें भर आतीं, पथ में तरु की कंटक-डालें चुभती हैं; हृदय खुरचता, रक्त-टशिए फूटें, धीरे से रिसते हैं, नदी-रेत में खेलती उंगलियां, दूर अभी तक दिखती हैं।
चलो जीव! बढ़ना है आगे, इस काल-प्रवाह की धारा में, क्या संभव पीछे को बहना? पोंछो नीर अब नयनों के; भुतकाल का भार लिए सिर पर, जैसे 'बेगारी' चलना, साथी कुत्ता, सीमा आई, अब उसे भी वापस मुड़ना।
दूर खेत में देखूं, दो कर ऊंचे कर मुझे रोकती— वह मेरी भ्रमणा? रुठे शिशु को बुला रही क्या 'बा' थी!
Poem 4: Choose a Hindi poem and translate it into English and Gujarati
English Translation (Chat GPT):
The Motherland
Mother and motherland, dear to our soul,
Greater than heaven in worth and role;
Crowned by Himalaya’s radiant grace,
Golden earth with an ever-green face,
Ganga–Yamuna, light-entwined stream—
She lives in every heart’s deep dream.
Rama, Lakshmana, Sita once came,
Their sacred dust made her holy name;
Here Krishna sang the Gita’s flame,
And the eternal flute woke life from sleep.
Women like Savitri, Radha bright,
Descended in embodied light;
Stone through penance learned to feel,
Inert turned conscious, hard to real.
Where Shantiniketan bloomed as a grove,
Sages in stillness learned to move;
Roaming the sky of awakened mind,
Where rays of truth were gently kind.
Today this war-scarred world shall rise,
And chant once more her ancient cry:
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”—
A newborn light upon her face shall lie.
Mother and motherland, dear to our soul,
Greater than heaven, eternal and whole.
Gujarati Translation (Chat GPT):
જન્મભૂમિ
જનની, જન્મભૂમિ અમને પ્રાણપ્રિય,
સ્વર્ગથી પણ સદા મહત્ત્વશીલ;
હિમાલય જેના લલાટે દીપે,
સુવર્ણ ધરા હરિયાળી હસી ખીલે,
ગંગા–યમુનાનું તેજસ્વી જળ—
તે દરેક હૃદયમાં સ્થિર વસે.
રામ–લક્ષ્મણ–સીતા આવી જ્યાં,
પદધૂળિએ ભૂમિને પવિત્ર કરી ત્યાં;
જ્યાં કૃષ્ણે ગીતાનું ગાન કર્યું,
અમર પ્રાણોમાં વંશી વગાડી દીધી ત્યાં.
સાવિત્રી–રાધા સમી નારી,
દેહધારી દિવ્યતા બની પધારી;
તપે પથ્થર ચેતન બન્યો,
જડતાએ જીવંત અર્થ સંભાળ્યો.
શાંતિનિકેતન જ્યાં તપોવન બન્યું,
ઋષિજન ધ્યાનમગ્ન ત્યાં રહ્યા;
ચિદાકાશમાં વિહાર કરતા,
જ્યાં સત્યની કિરણો વરસ્યા.
આજ યુદ્ધથી ઘાયલ વિશ્વજીવન,
ફરી ઉચારશે મંત્ર પાવન—
“વસુધૈવ કુટુંબકમ્”—
નવ જ્યોતિ ઝળહળશે તેના વદન.
જનની, જન્મભૂમિ અમને પ્રાણપ્રિય,
સ્વર્ગથી પણ સદા મહત્ત્વશીલ.
English Translation (Gemini AI)
Motherland
Our Mother, Motherland, so dear to see, Greater than Heaven for eternity. Whose forehead high is the Himachals' pride, Where golden fields in green laughter abide, Where Ganga and Yamuna’s sparked waters glide, In every heart she dwells, vibrant and free!
The land where Ram, Lakshman, and Sita stayed, Whose hallowed dust by their footsteps was made, Where Krishna’s flute an eternal song played, And Gita’s truth woke the soul's ecstasy!
Where women like Savitri and Radha shone, In bodies of light, divine seeds were sown; Where the stone-maiden’s penance to life was known, As consciousness bloomed from cold rigidity!
Where Shantiniketan’s penance-groves stand, Where sages in deep meditation spanned, Soaring through skies of the Mind, so grand, Where rays of Truth rained on humanity!
Today, in a world by war’s ruin oppressed, She shall chant the ancient, sacred behest; Making the Earth one family, truly blessed, With a new dawn’s light on her face to be! Our Mother, Motherland, so dear to see, Greater than Heaven for eternity.
Gujarati Translation (Gemini AI):
જન્મભૂમિ
જનની જન્મભૂમિ પ્રિય આપણી, સ્વર્ગથી પણ જે ચિર ગરિયસી, હિમાચલ જેનું ગૌરવ ભાલ, સ્વર્ણ ધરા હસતી નિત શ્યામલ, જ્યોતિગૂંથિત ગંગા યમુના જલ, તે જન જનના હૃદયે વસી!
જેને રામ લક્ષ્મણ ને સીતા, કરી ગયા પદધૂલિ પુનીતા, જ્યાં કૃષ્ણે ગાઈ અમર ગીતા, વગાડી પ્રાણોમાં વંશી!
સાવિત્રી રાધા જેવી નારી, ઉતરી આભા-દેહી પ્યારી, શિલા બની તાપસ સુકુમારી, જડતા બની ચેતના સરસી!
શાંતિનિકેતન જ્યાં તપોવન, ધ્યાનાવસ્થિત ઋષિ મુનિ ગણ, ચિદ્-નભમાં કરતા વિતરણ, જ્યાં સત્યની કિરણો વરસી!
આજ યુદ્ધજર્જર જગજીવન, પુનઃ કરશે મંત્રોચ્ચારણ, તે 'વસુધૈવ કુટુંબકમ્' પાલન, મુખ પર જ્યોતિ નવલ-સી! જનની જન્મભૂમિ પ્રિય આપણી, સ્વર્ગથી પણ જે ચિર ગરિયસી.
Analyse Translations
Identify and discuss:
1. Which parts of the poem were challenging to translate? Why?
Faiz: Social and historical imagery like “Bodies sold everywhere” and “dark, brutal spells” – hard to balance literal meaning and poetic emotion.
Yeats: Mystical symbols (Spiritus Mundi, falcon imagery) and apocalyptic tone – culturally dense, difficult to render in Hindi/Gujarati.
Jayant Pathak: Nostalgic metaphors (“like cattle in a bitter bargain”) – emotion vs. literal clarity.
Motherland poem: Combining mythology, geography, and cultural pride – preserving reverence and flow was tricky.
2. How were cultural connotations and collocations handled in the translation?
Faiz Ahmed Faiz: Social and historical imagery (e.g., “bodies sold in bazaars,” “dark, brutal spells”) was preserved. ChatGPT translated literally, while Gemini AI sometimes paraphrased to retain emotional impact.
Yeats: Mystical and symbolic terms like Spiritus Mundi were handled differently: ChatGPT translated for clarity in Hindi, Gemini AI retained the original to preserve literary mystique.
Jayant Pathak: Nostalgic and homeland metaphors were adapted to convey emotion in target languages while keeping cultural meaning intact.
Hindi poem on Motherland: Mythological and geographical references (Rama, Krishna, Himalaya, Ganga–Yamuna) were preserved to maintain cultural authenticity. Gemini AI also smoothed phrasing for poetic flow.
3. Were there untranslatable words or phrases? If yes, how did the AI tools resolve them?
Faiz Ahmed Faiz: “Mujh se pehli si mohabbat” – ChatGPT translated literally as “that old love,” Gemini AI paraphrased as “that first love” for smoother flow.
Yeats: “Spiritus Mundi” – ChatGPT translated to Hindi (“विश्व-आत्मा”) for clarity, Gemini AI retained the original to preserve mystical nuance.
Jayant Pathak: Metaphors like “like cattle in a bitter bargain” – both tools adapted them to convey meaning and emotion without losing cultural context.
Hindi poem on Motherland: Mythological and geographical terms (Rama, Krishna, Himalaya, Ganga–Yamuna) – retained in all translations; AI adjusted syntax and phrasing for readability and poetic effect.
Explain the choices and considerations made during translation:
1. Did the metre or rhyme scheme influence the translation?
Faiz Ahmed Faiz – Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat
Metre and rhyme were not preserved in Hindi or English; AI prioritized semantic clarity and emotional meaning. The lyrical flow of the ghazal was partially conveyed through sentence rhythm rather than formal rhyme.
W. B. Yeats – The Second Coming
AI did not replicate line-length irregularities or subtle English rhyme cues; focus was on conveying imagery, tone, and meaning in Hindi and Gujarati.
Jayant Pathak – Vatan Se Vidai Hote
AI retained narrative flow and emotional imagery, but metrical rhythm and rhyme were lost, as literal and idiomatic clarity took precedence.
Motherland- Sumitranandan Pant
AI preserved poetic sentence flow, but exact metre and rhyme were not maintained, focusing instead on clarity, tone, and cultural resonance.
2. Were any liberties taken to retain the poem's tone and emotion?
Poem | Liberties Taken | Tone/Emotion Retained | Examples |
Faiz Ahmed Faiz – Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat | Phrasing adjusted to intensify meaning | Sorrowful, dark, and reflective tone preserved | Gemini AI: “beastly spells” vs. ChatGPT: “dark, brutal spells” |
W. B. Yeats – The Second Coming | Mystical terms adapted or retained | Foreboding, apocalyptic atmosphere maintained | ChatGPT: Spiritus Mundi → “विश्व-आत्मा”; Gemini AI retained original |
Jayant Pathak – Vatan Se Vidai Hote | Metaphors slightly rephrased | Nostalgic and melancholic mood preserved | “like cattle in a bitter bargain” adapted in English |
Motherland | Word choice adjustment, sentence restructuring | Reverential, patriotic, and lyrical tone preserved | References to Rama, Krishna, Himalayas rephrased for flow |
Compare the translations:
Highlight differences between ChatGPT and Gemini outputs
Poem | ChatGPT Output | Gemini Output |
Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat (Faiz) | More literal, word-to-word translation | More interpretive and emotionally intensified |
The Second Coming (Yeats) | Explains or translates difficult terms for clarity | Retains original terms to preserve mystery |
Vatan Se Vidai Hote (Jayant Pathak) | Closer to original syntax and structure | Smoother phrasing and emotional flow |
Motherland Poem | Faithful and literal rendering of images | Adjusted word choice and poetic smoothing |
Evaluate which tool performed better in retaining key aspects of the original poem.
Poem | Key Aspect Evaluated | Better Performing Tool |
|---|
Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat | Emotional depth and tone | Gemini |
The Second Coming | Apocalyptic mood and mysticism | Chat GPT |
Vatan Se Vidai Hote | Nostalgia and lyrical flow | Gemini |
Motherland Poem | Cultural reverence and poetic tone | Chat GPT |
Jakobson’s idea that interlingual translation is an act of interpretation is clearly visible in the AI translations analysed in this blog. Neither ChatGPT nor Gemini produced word-for-word equivalents. Instead, they interpreted meaning, especially in emotionally complex poems like Faiz’s Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat. Variations in word choice and sentence structure show that the AI tools treated translation as meaning-making rather than mechanical substitution.
J. C. Catford: Translation Shifts
Catford’s theory of translation shifts helps explain why changes occurred at grammatical, lexical, and structural levels. In poems where metre, rhyme, or syntax could not be preserved, both AI tools shifted sentence order or replaced culturally specific expressions. These shifts were evident in the translation of Yeats’s symbolic language and the patriotic rhythm of the Motherland poem, where formal equivalence was sacrificed for clarity and readability.
G. N. Devy: Translation as a Cultural Act
Devy’s view of translation as a creative and cultural process is strongly supported by the findings. The AI tools retained mythological names, national symbols, and cultural references rather than replacing them. However, while cultural markers were preserved, emotional depth rooted in lived experience was sometimes diluted, showing the limits of AI in fully performing translation as cultural memory.
A. K. Ramanujan: Context-Sensitive Translation
Ramanujan’s emphasis on context-sensitive translation is most clearly reflected in Gemini’s approach. By prioritising tone, mood, and cultural resonance over literal accuracy, Gemini aligned with Ramanujan’s belief that translations must negotiate between fidelity and transformation. The handling of nostalgia, reverence, and apocalypse across the poems confirms that context, not just language, shapes effective poetic translation.
Comparative Analysis Report
Poem 1: Faiz Ahmed Faiz – Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat
Syntax, Sound, and Metre
The original poem follows a lyrical Urdu free-verse rhythm with internal musicality. In translation, strict metre and rhyme were not retained. ChatGPT followed original sentence order, while Gemini slightly rearranged syntax to enhance emotional flow.
Lexicon, Grammar, and Semiotics
Words like “vahshi jadoo-tone” carry socio-political weight. ChatGPT used literal equivalents (“dark, brutal spells”), whereas Gemini chose semiotically stronger phrases (“beastly spells”) to convey oppression.
Cultural Connotations and Collocations
Romantic imagery mixed with political suffering posed challenges. Both AIs preserved collocations related to love and loss but Gemini foregrounded protest more clearly.
Challenges and Resolutions
The tension between romantic love and social reality was hard to balance. Gemini resolved this through interpretive amplification; ChatGPT relied on semantic fidelity.
Poem 2: W. B. Yeats – The Second Coming
Syntax, Sound, and Metre
The poem’s loose iambic rhythm and prophetic cadence were difficult to reproduce. ChatGPT focused on syntactic clarity, while Gemini preserved abrupt sentence structures to maintain apocalyptic urgency.
Lexicon, Grammar, and Semiotics
Symbolic terms like “falcon,” “gyre,” and “Spiritus Mundi” are semiotically dense. ChatGPT translated or explained them; Gemini retained originals to preserve ambiguity.
Cultural Connotations and Collocations
Western mythic and biblical connotations were largely retained. Gemini respected Yeats’s symbolic opacity; ChatGPT made meanings more accessible for non-Western readers.
Challenges and Resolutions
The main challenge was translating symbolism without over-explaining. Gemini resolved this by minimal intervention; ChatGPT used interpretive clarification.
Poem 3: Vatan thi Viday Thata - Jayant Pathak
Syntax, Sound, and Metre
The Gujarati poem’s soft rhythm and oral tone were flattened in translation. ChatGPT preserved original sentence patterns; Gemini restructured lines for smoother English rhythm.
Lexicon, Grammar, and Semiotics
Phrases like “like cattle in a bitter bargain” function metaphorically. Gemini slightly modified wording to make the metaphor emotionally intelligible to non-native readers.
Cultural Connotations and Collocations
Images of migration, loss, and homeland are culturally rooted. Both AIs retained key collocations, but Gemini conveyed emotional nuance more effectively.
Challenges and Resolutions
Cultural nostalgia lacked direct equivalents. Gemini resolved this through poetic smoothing; ChatGPT retained literal phrasing.
Poem 4: Janmbhumi by Sumitranandan Pant
Syntax, Sound, and Metre
The poem uses a patriotic, rhythmic structure resembling a hymn. Neither AI retained the original rhyme scheme. Gemini reshaped sentences for lyrical flow; ChatGPT remained closer to original order.
Lexicon, Grammar, and Semiotics
Terms like Himalaya, Ganga-Yamuna, Rama, Krishna carry symbolic-national meaning. Both tools retained them, but Gemini enhanced imagery through expressive adjectives.
Cultural Connotations and Collocations
Strong mythological and geographical collocations were preserved. Gemini emphasized reverence; ChatGPT focused on factual-cultural accuracy.
Challenges and Resolutions
The challenge was avoiding cultural dilution. Both AIs retained references; Gemini resolved emotional transmission more effectively through poetic diction.
Reflection
This Activity Through understanding of Translation Studies through practical engagement with AI tools. By translating poems across Urdu, English, Hindi, Gujarati, and Hindi–Gujarati pairs, I learned that poetic translation is not a mechanical transfer of words but an interpretive, creative, and culturally embedded process. The exercise clarified how syntax, metre, sound, and imagery often shift to preserve meaning and emotion. Comparing ChatGPT and Gemini helped me recognise differences between literal fidelity and emotional resonance. I also learned to identify untranslatable elements, cultural connotations, and necessary translation shifts, linking practice with theories by Jakobson, Catford, Devy, and Ramanujan. Overall, this activity strengthened my critical ability to evaluate AI-generated translations and highlighted the irreplaceable role of human judgment in literary translation.
Thank You !!
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