Need a few lines of English translated to Hmong

October 29, 2009 10:49 AM

I need a few lines of English translated to Hmong.

Since there are no online English to Hmong translators, I thought to ask here. I know these lines are heavy vernacular, just do your best.

I'm taking it back to the old school
'Cause I'm an old fool who's so cool
If you want to get down
I'm-a show you the way
Whoomp there it is
Let me hear you say

Bonus points if you can somehow make it rhyme, or funny.

Thanks!

posted by 4midori to writing & language (7 comments total)

If you don't get any takers here, perhaps try these guys or a similar student group.
posted by dersins at 12:03 PM on October 29, 2009

This site also has a Hmong board that might help.
posted by Iron Rat at 12:39 PM on October 29, 2009

Here it is, via a friend of mine. He clarified that it is in the Green Hmong dialect, and decided to do one that stays really close to the meaning, and the other than privileges rhyming.

1. MEANING, NO RHYMING VERSION:

Kuv yuav ua le kev cai qub
Vim kuv yog ib tus laug lawm hab kuv heev
Yog koj pum zoo hab
Ces lus, Kuv qha koj txuj kev
Aub yaub nyob ntawd ne
Kuv xaav nov koj has

Reverse translation (Hmong back into English) of "meaning" version

I'm gonna do it the old way
Because I'm an elder and I'm intense
If you see it well (agree) too
Then come, I will teach you the way
(exclamation) there it is
I want to hear you say

2. TRYING TO MAKE IT RHYME VERSION:

Thaub qab rov moog thaum ub
Vim Kuv heev hab nyam coj qub
Yog koj xaav ua hab
Kuv maam qha txuj kev
Aub yaub nyob ntawd tag
Kuv xaav nov koj has

Reverse translation (Hmong back into English) of "rhyming" version

Reverse (back it up) it and go again to the past
because I'm intense and I like (doing it) the old way
If you want to do it too
I will teach the way
(exclamation) there it really is
I want to hear you say
posted by umbú at 3:23 PM on October 29, 2009

I thought that my friend's thought process on the translation was interesting, so I got his permission to post his message. 4midori, is there any way you could tell us what this is for?

"It's an... "interesting" request, but not impossible. The impossible part is making it rhyme! What's it for? I speak and read and write the Green Hmong dialect, but the requester made no preference either? As I'm sure you can understand with languages, the meaning is the most important thing you want to keep intact, but especially when it comes to lyrics or poetry (as I assume this is), it becomes much harder to keep the formatting intact (rhyming, meter, what not).

My brother strongly urges use of the "rhyming version", in keeping with the obvious style. I agree to some extent as well. The language for "elder" for example is actually elder, not "old fool", so... if someone literally takes that to mean old fool, then its not working. I guess what I'm saying is that the "meaning version" is perhaps more literal but also captures the meaning better, but as such, the meaning could be interpreted too literally as well, and the original playfulness might be lost on some. The "rhyming version" hopefully has lost that "serious tone" and does come off as a lyric in a new toned down way. For instance, I use "I like old ways" as if to say nothing about one's actual age, but instead, one is an admirer of the vintage or old school.

"Heev" means intense, that's just the best way to translate that word. It could also mean "stubborn or unmoving" but could also be interpreted subtly as "intense" in a complimentary way, like one who is so cool that s/he sticks to one's unchanging perspective.

"Kuv yeej tsis yuav le! Tsum!" (I will not take it (money, a gift, etc.)! Stop!)

"Ua cas koj yuav heev ua luaj lau!" (Why are you so... intent on that way?!)

It's great to work on a translation request at all (and work out those muscles), but to get one in Hmong is even rarer and more... special! I'm sure you're aware that though Hmong has a written language, the majority of Hmong people are not literate; there was no mass instruction due to the disapora, so people "guerilla" learned however they did/could. In my family, we all speak, but it's just my father and I who read and write as well. Though, with written Hmong, most Hmong people can guess just by looking at the words, i.e. "Nyob zoo" ("nyaw zhong" aka greetings! or lit "be well")."
posted by umbú at 7:26 PM on October 29, 2009

umbú:

Thanks for the the translation, this is awesome.

I know just a tiny bit about Hmong, and its history.

As for the reason for the request: it's as old as time itself--to woo a lady.
posted by 4midori at 10:10 PM on October 29, 2009

Dude. You're wooing a lady with "Whoomp There It Is"? Are you wooing her in a time machine?
posted by dersins at 11:43 PM on October 29, 2009 [1 favorite]

Good luck, 4midori. If this doesn't work, nothing will!
posted by umbú at 8:51 AM on October 30, 2009