Translation Activity

This Blog is a Part of Thinking Activity on Translation Studies Assigned by Dr. and Prof. Dilip Barad Sir.

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This blog explores Translation Studies with a particular focus on translating and analysing poetry using Generative AI tools. Inspired by the Translation Studies Activity Worksheet: Using Gen AI Tools for Translating Poems and the Guidelines for Using Generative AI in Translation Studies, the blog investigates how AI can support poetic translation while promoting critical analysis. The activity involves using AI tools to translate poems and examining the results in terms of meaning, tone, rhythm, cultural context, and linguistic choices.

“Comparing AI Approaches in Poetry Translation: ChatGPT vs. Gemini”

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: 

مجھ سے پہلی سی محبت مری محبوب نہ مانگ

میں نے سمجھا تھا کہ تو ہے تو درخشاں ہے حیات

تیرا غم ہے تو غم دہر کا جھگڑا کیا ہے

تیری صورت سے ہے عالم میں بہاروں کو ثبات

تیری آنکھوں کے سوا دنیا میں رکھا کیا ہے

تو جو مل جائے تو تقدیر نگوں ہو جائے

یوں نہ تھا میں نے فقط چاہا تھا یوں ہو جائے

اور بھی دکھ ہیں زمانے میں محبت کے سوا

راحتیں اور بھی ہیں وصل کی راحت کے سوا

ان گنت صدیوں کے تاریک بہیمانہ طلسم

ریشم و اطلس و کمخاب میں بنوائے ہوئے

جا بہ جا بکتے ہوئے کوچہ و بازار میں جسم

خاک میں لتھڑے ہوئے خون میں نہلائے ہوئے

جسم نکلے ہوئے امراض کے تنوروں سے

پیپ بہتی ہوئی گلتے ہوئے ناسوروں سے

لوٹ جاتی ہے ادھر کو بھی نظر کیا کیجے

اب بھی دل کش ہے ترا حسن مگر کیا کیجے

اور بھی دکھ ہیں زمانے میں محبت کے سوا

راحتیں اور بھی ہیں وصل کی راحت کے سوا

مجھ سے پہلی سی محبت مری محبوب نہ مانگ

Hindi Translation(Chat GPT):  

मुझसे पहली-सी मोहब्बत, मेरी महबूब, न माँग

मैंने समझा था कि तू है तो ज़िंदगी रौशन है

तेरा ग़म है तो ज़माने के दुखों से क्या मतलब

तेरे चेहरे से ही दुनिया में बहारों को स्थिरता है

तेरी आँखों के सिवा दुनिया में रखा ही क्या है

तू जो मिल जाए तो क़िस्मत भी झुक जाए

ऐसा न था, मैंने तो बस चाहा था कि ऐसा हो जाए

मोहब्बत के सिवा भी ज़माने में और दुख हैं

मिलन की राहत के सिवा भी और राहतें हैं

अनगिनत सदियों के अँधेरे, वहशी तिलिस्म

रेशम, अटलस और कमख़्वाब में गढ़े हुए

गली-कूचों और बाज़ारों में जगह-जगह बिकते जिस्म

मिट्टी में सने हुए, ख़ून में नहाए हुए

बीमारियों की भट्टियों से निकले हुए जिस्म

पीप बहाते, सड़ते हुए फोड़े-घावों से

उधर भी नज़र लौट जाती है—क्या किया जाए

अब भी तेरा हुस्न दिलकश है, मगर क्या किया जाए

मोहब्बत के सिवा भी ज़माने में और दुख हैं

मिलन की राहत के सिवा भी और राहतें हैं

मुझसे पहली-सी मोहब्बत, मेरी महबूब, न माँग

 Hindi Translation (Gemini AI):

मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत मिरी महबूब न माँग

मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत मिरी महबूब न माँग मैंने समझा था कि तू है तो दरख़्शाँ (रोशन) है हयात तेरा ग़म है तो ग़म-ए-दहर (दुनिया का ग़म) का झगड़ा क्या है तेरी सूरत से है आलम में बहारों को सबात (स्थायित्व) तेरी आँखों के सिवा दुनिया में रक्खा क्या है तू जो मिल जाए तो तक़दीर निगूँ (नतमस्तक) हो जाए

यूँ न था मैंने फ़क़त चाहा था यूँ हो जाए और भी दुख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा राहतें और भी हैं वस्ल (मिलन) की राहत के सिवा

अनगिनत सदियों के तारीख़ (अंधेरे) बहीमाना (वहशी) तिलिस्म रेशम ओ अतलस ओ कमख़ाब (कीमती कपड़े) में बुनवाए हुए जा-ब-जा (जगह-जगह) बिकते हुए कूचा-ओ-बाज़ार में जिस्म ख़ाक में लथड़े हुए ख़ून में नहलाए हुए

जिस्म निकले हुए अमराज़ (बीमारियों) के तनूरों से पीप बहती हुई गलते हुए नासूरों से लौट जाती है उधर को भी नज़र क्या कीजे अब भी दिलकश है तिरा हुस्न मगर क्या कीजे

और भी दुख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा राहतें और भी हैं वस्ल की राहत के सिवा मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत मिरी महबूब न माँग

English Tanslation(Chat GPT):

Do not ask of me, my beloved, that love again

I once believed that if you were there, life would shine bright

If your sorrow existed, what quarrel had I with the world’s grief?

From your face alone, the world’s spring seemed everlasting

What is there in this world beyond your eyes?

If you were to be mine, even destiny would bow

It was not so—I had only wished it would be so

For there are other sorrows in the world besides love

There are other comforts too, than the comfort of union

The dark, brutal enchantments of countless centuries

Bodies adorned in silk, satin, and brocade

Bodies sold everywhere—in alleys and marketplaces

Smeared with dust, bathed in blood

Bodies emerging from the furnaces of disease

From festering wounds, with pus still flowing

My gaze turns there as well—what can I do?

Your beauty is still captivating, even now—but what can I do?

For there are other sorrows in the world besides love

There are other comforts too, than the comfort of union

Do not ask of me, my beloved, that love again

English Translation (Gemini AI):

Do Not Ask Me, My Love, for That Love We Shared Before

Do not ask me, my love, for that love we shared before. I had imagined that because of you, life was radiant; If I suffered for you, why would the sorrows of the world matter? Your face alone gave permanence to the springtimes of the world; What does the world hold besides the beauty of your eyes? If I were to find you, destiny itself would bow before me.

It was not like this; I had only wished it were so.

There are other sorrows in this world than the heartache of love, And comforts other than the solace of union. Dark, beastly spells of countless centuries, Woven into silk, satin, and gold-brocade; Bodies sold everywhere in alleys and marketplaces, Smeared in dust, bathed in their own blood.

Bodies emerging from the furnaces of pestilence, With pus dripping from festering wounds; My gaze turns that way too—what can I do? Your beauty is still captivating, but what can I do?

There are other sorrows in this world than the heartache of love, And comforts other than the solace of union. Do not ask me, my love, for that love we shared before.

Poem 2: Translate W. B. Yeats's The Second Coming into Hindi and Gujarati.

W. B. Yeats's The Second Coming

Turning and turning in the widening gyre   

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere   

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst   

Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.   

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out   

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert   

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,   

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,   

Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it   

Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.   

The darkness drops again; but now I know   

That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,   

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,   

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Hindi Translation (Chat GPT):

घूमते हुए, फैलते हुए चक्र में घूम रहा है सब कुछ,

बाज़ अब बाज़ीगर की आवाज़ नहीं सुन पाता;

सब कुछ बिखर रहा है, केंद्र अब टिक नहीं पाता;

निरा अराजकता संसार पर छा गई है।

खून से भरी धारा बह निकली है, और हर ओर

मासूमियत के सारे संस्कार डूबते जा रहे हैं;

श्रेष्ठ लोग संकल्पहीन हैं,

और दुष्ट लोग उग्र जुनून से भरे हुए हैं।

निश्चय ही कोई उद्घाटन निकट है;

निश्चय ही दूसरा आगमन पास है।

दूसरा आगमन! ये शब्द अभी मेरे होंठों से निकले ही थे

कि स्पिरिटस मुंडी से उठती एक विशाल छवि

मेरी दृष्टि को विचलित कर देती है।

रेगिस्तान की रेत में कहीं

सिंह का शरीर और मानव का सिर लिए एक आकृति

निष्करुण, शून्य दृष्टि से, सूर्य-सी कठोर,

अपने भारी जंघाओं को धीरे-धीरे हिलाती हुई बढ़ती है,

और उसके चारों ओर

क्रुद्ध रेगिस्तानी पक्षियों की परछाइयाँ मंडराती हैं।

अँधेरा फिर छा जाता है; पर अब मैं जानता हूँ

कि पत्थर-सी नींद में डूबे बीस सदियों को

एक झूलते पालने ने दुःस्वप्न में बदल दिया था।

और वह कौन-सा विकराल पशु है,

जिसकी घड़ी अब अंततः आ पहुँची है,

जो जन्म लेने के लिए

बेथलेहम की ओर घिसटता चला आ रहा है?

Hindi Translation (Gemini AI):

चक्रवात (The Second Coming)

बढ़ते हुए घेरे में घूमता और घूमता हुआ, बाज़ अब अपने बाज़दार (मालिक) की आवाज़ नहीं सुन पा रहा; चीज़ें बिखर रही हैं; केंद्र अब संभाल नहीं पा रहा; दुनिया में केवल अराजकता फैल गई है, रक्त से धुंधली हुई लहरें उमड़ पड़ी हैं, और हर तरफ, मासूमियत की रस्म डूब गई है; श्रेष्ठ लोगों में किसी विश्वास की कमी है, जबकि सबसे बुरे लोग जुनूनी तीव्रता से भरे हुए हैं।

निश्चित ही कोई रहस्य प्रकट होने वाला है; निश्चित ही वह 'दूसरा आगमन' (The Second Coming) करीब है। दूसरा आगमन! अभी ये शब्द निकले ही थे कि 'स्पिरिटस मुंडी' (विश्व-आत्मा) से एक विशाल छवि मेरी आँखों को परेशान करने लगी: रेगिस्तान की रेत में कहीं शेर जैसा शरीर और मनुष्य जैसा सिर वाली एक आकृति, एक दृष्टि जो सूरज की तरह कोरी और निर्दयी है, अपनी भारी जांघों को धीरे-धीरे हिला रही है, जबकि उसके चारों ओर क्रोधित रेगिस्तानी पक्षियों की परछाइयां मंडरा रही हैं।

अंधेरा फिर से छा जाता है; पर अब मैं जानता हूँ कि बीस सदियों की पथरीली नींद को एक झूलते हुए पालने ने दुःस्वप्न में बदल दिया है, और वह कौन सा खूंखार जीव है, जिसका समय अब आ गया है, जो जन्म लेने के लिए 'बेथलहम' की ओर लंगड़ाता हुआ बढ़ रहा है?

Gujarati Translation (Chat GPT):

વિસ્તરતા ચક્રમાં બધું ફેરવાતું જાય છે,

બાજ હવે બાજીગરની પોકાર સાંભળી શકતો નથી;

બધી વ્યવસ્થા તૂટી રહી છે, કેન્દ્ર હવે ટકી શકતું નથી;

નગ્ન અરાજકતા આખી દુનિયામાં છવાઈ ગઈ છે.

લોહીથી ધૂંધળો પ્રવાહ છૂટી પડ્યો છે, અને સર્વત્ર

નિર્દોષતાના સંસ્કાર ડૂબી રહ્યા છે;

શ્રેષ્ઠ લોકોમાં વિશ્વાસની કમી છે,

અને નિકૃષ્ટ લોકો ઉગ્ર ઉત્સાહથી ભરેલા છે.

નિશ્ચિત જ કોઈ પ્રકાશન નજીક છે;

નિશ્ચિત જ બીજું આગમન આવનાર છે.

બીજું આગમન! આ શબ્દો બોલાતા જ

સ્પિરિટસ મુન્ડીમાંથી ઉદ્ભવતી એક વિશાળ છબી

મારી નજરને વ્યાકુલ કરે છે.

રણની રેતમાં ક્યાંક

સિંહના શરીર અને માનવના મસ્તકવાળી એક આકૃતિ

સૂર્ય જેવી નિર્દય અને ખાલી નજર સાથે

પોતાની ભારે જાંઘોને ધીમે ધીમે હલાવી આગળ વધે છે,

અને તેની આસપાસ

ક્રોધિત રણપંખીઓની છાયાઓ ઘૂમે છે.

અંધકાર ફરી છવાઈ જાય છે; પરંતુ હવે મને ખબર છે

કે પથ્થર જેવી ઊંઘમાં ડૂબેલી વીસ સદીઓને

એક ઝૂલતા પાળણાએ દુઃસ્વપ્નમાં ફેરવી દીધી હતી.

અને એ કયું ભયાનક પ્રાણી છે,

જેની ઘડી હવે આવી પહોંચી છે,

જે જન્મ લેવા માટે

બેથલેહેમ તરફ લથડતું આગળ વધી રહ્યું છે?

Gujarati Translation (Gemini AI):

બીજું આગમન (The Second Coming)

વિસ્તરતા જતા વમળમાં ગોળ-ગોળ ઘૂમતો, બાજ હવે તેના માલિકનો અવાજ સાંભળી શકતો નથી; વસ્તુઓ વેરવિખેર થઈ રહી છે; કેન્દ્ર હવે પકડી શકતું નથી; દુનિયામાં માત્ર અરાજકતા ફેલાઈ ગઈ છે, લોહીથી ખરડાયેલી ભરતી ઉમટી પડી છે, અને બધે જ, નિર્દોષતાની વિધિ ડૂબી ગઈ છે; શ્રેષ્ઠ લોકોમાં કોઈ દ્રઢતા રહી નથી, જ્યારે સૌથી ખરાબ લોકો ભયંકર ઝનૂન અને તીવ્રતાથી ભરેલા છે.

ચોક્કસ કોઈ સાક્ષાત્કાર થવાનો છે; ચોક્કસ 'બીજું આગમન' નજીક છે. બીજું આગમન! હજુ તો આ શબ્દો બોલાયા જ હતા ત્યાં 'સ્પિરિટસ મુંડી' (વિશ્વ-આત્મા) માંથી એક વિશાળ આકૃતિ મારી નજરને વિચલિત કરવા લાગી: રણની રેતીમાં ક્યાંક સિંહ જેવું શરીર અને માણસ જેવું માથું ધરાવતી એક આકૃતિ, સૂર્ય જેવી કોરી અને નિર્દય તેની નજર, તેની ધીમી જાંઘો હલાવી રહી છે, જ્યારે તેની આસપાસ ક્રોધિત રણ-પક્ષીઓના પડછાયા ઘૂમી રહ્યા છે.

અંધકાર ફરી છવાઈ જાય છે; પણ હવે હું જાણું છું કે વીસ સદીઓની પથ્થર જેવી ઊંઘને એક ઝૂલતા પારણાએ ડરામણા સ્વપ્નમાં ફેરવી દીધી છે, અને એ કયું હિંસક જનાવર છે, જેનો સમય હવે આવી ગયો છે, જે જન્મ લેવા માટે 'બેથલેહેમ' તરફ લથડિયાં ખાતું આગળ વધી રહ્યું છે?

Poem 3: Choose a Gujarati poem and translate it into Hindi and English.

સ્ત્રી શિક્ષા – દલપતરામ

સ્ત્રીને શિક્ષા આપો ભાઈ,

સ્ત્રી વિના ઘર અંધારું થાય;

સ્ત્રી અજ્ઞાની રહે જો ઘરમાં,

સંસાર સારો ક્યાંથી થાય?

માતા શિક્ષિત હોય જ્યાં,

ત્યાં સંતાન સંસ્કારી બને;

મૂર્ખતામાં બંધાય સ્ત્રી,

તો ઘરનું ભાગ્ય પણ રડે.

સ્ત્રી શિક્ષા છે સમાજની,

મજબૂત કિલ્લાની પાય;

જ્યાં નારી ઉન્નત થાય,

ત્યાં દેશ પણ ઊંચો જાય.

નારી માત્ર ભોગ ન ગણો,

ન તે રમકડું જાણો;

તે પણ બુદ્ધિ ધરાવતી છે,

આ સત્યને હવે માનો.

શિક્ષા સ્ત્રીને આપશો તો,

દુઃખનો અંત થશે;

અજ્ઞાન દૂર થશે ત્યારે,

સાચો વિકાસ થશે.

Hindi Translation (Chat GPT):

“स्त्री शिक्षा”

स्त्री को शिक्षा दो, हे भाई,

स्त्री बिना घर अंधकारमय हो जाता है;

यदि नारी अज्ञान में रहे,

तो समाज कैसे सुधर पाए?

माता ही प्रथम गुरु होती है,

भविष्य उसके हाथों में होता है;

जब माता शिक्षित होती है,

तभी संतान संस्कारी बनती है।

नारी को बंधनों में रखने से

समाज कभी ऊँचा नहीं उठता;

जहाँ नारी आगे बढ़ती है,

वहीं प्रगति का दीप जलता है।

नारी को केवल भोग न समझो,

न उसे खिलौना मानो;

उसमें बुद्धि, विचार और आत्मा है—

इस सत्य को अब पहचानो।

यदि स्त्री को शिक्षा दी जाए,

तो अज्ञान दूर हो जाएगा;

जब नारी जागेगी,

तभी समाज उज्ज्वल बनेगा।

Hindi Translation (Gemini AI):

स्त्री शिक्षा

स्त्री को शिक्षा दो भाई, बिन स्त्री घर अंधेरा हो जाए; स्त्री अज्ञानी रहे जो घर में, संसार भला कैसे सुधर पाए?

माता शिक्षित हो जहाँ, वहाँ संतान संस्कारी बने; मूर्खता में बंधी रहे स्त्री, तो घर का भाग्य भी रोने लगे।

स्त्री शिक्षा है समाज की, मजबूत किले की नींव; जहाँ नारी उन्नत होती है, वहाँ देश भी ऊँचा उठता है।

नारी को मात्र भोग न समझो, न उसे कोई खिलौना जानो; वह भी बुद्धि रखती है, इस सत्य को अब तुम मानो।

शिक्षा स्त्री को दोगे तो, दुखों का अंत हो जाएगा; अज्ञान दूर होगा जब, सच्चा विकास तब आएगा।

English Translation (Chat GPT):

“Women’s Education”

O brother, give education to women,

Without women, the home falls into darkness;

If a woman remains uneducated,

How can society ever improve?

The mother is the first teacher,

The future rests in her hands;

When a mother is educated,

Her children grow cultured and wise.

By keeping women in confinement,

A society can never rise;

Where women move forward,

The light of progress shines.

Do not treat women as objects of pleasure,

Do not consider them as toys;

They possess intellect, thought, and spirit—

Recognize this truth at last.

If women are given education,

Ignorance will fade away;

When women awaken,

Society too will be enlightened.

English Translation (Gemini AI):

The Education of Women

Grant education to women, O brother, Without a woman, the home is filled with darkness; If the woman remains ignorant within the house, How can the world ever become a better place?

Where the mother is well-educated, There the children grow with noble values; But if a woman is bound by ignorance, Then the very fortune of the home shall weep.

The education of women is for society, The foundation of a mighty fortress; Where the woman is uplifted, There the nation, too, reaches great heights.

Do not consider a woman a mere object of desire, Nor think of her as a plaything; She, too, possesses intellect and wisdom, Accept this truth at last.

If you provide education to women, The era of sorrows will come to an end; Only when ignorance is swept away, Will true progress begin to flourish.

Poem 4: Choose a Hindi poem and translate it into English and Gujarati

सपनों की उड़ान  

सपनों की उड़ान है अनंत,

मन की शक्ति से खुलता हर पथ।

रोक न सके कोई तूफान,

साहस से होता है विजय का सच।  

छोटी-छोटी कोशिशें साथ,

बुनती हैं सफलता की राह।

असफलताओं से ना डरना,

हर अँधेरे में चमके आशा का दीप।  

English Translation (Chat GPT):

Flight of Dreams

The flight of dreams is endless,  

Every path opens with the power of the mind.  

No storm can hold it back,  

With courage comes the truth of victory.  

Little efforts join together,  

Weaving the path of success.  

Do not fear failures,  

In every darkness shines the lamp of hope.  

English Translation (Gemini AI)

The Flight of Dreams

The flight of dreams is infinite, Every path opens with the power of the mind. No storm can hinder the way, For victory becomes a reality through courage.

Small efforts joined together, Weave the road to success. Do not fear failures, In every darkness, the lamp of hope shines bright.

Gujarati Translation (Chat GPT):

સપનાની ઉડાન

સપનાની ઉડાન અસમાપ્ય છે,  

મનની શક્તિથી દરેક માર્ગ ખુલ્લો થાય છે.  

કોઈ તોફાન તેને રોકી નહીં શકે,  

સાહસથી જ વિજયનો સાચો અર્થ મળે છે.  

નાની-નાની કોશિશો સાથે મળી,  

સફળતાનું માર્ગ બને છે.  

અસફળતાથી ન ડરવું,  

દરેક અંધકારમાં આશાનું દીપ ચમકે છે.  

Gujarati Translation (Gemini AI):

સપનાની ઉડાન

સપનાની ઉડાન છે અનંત, મનની શક્તિથી ખુલે છે દરેક પથ. રોકી ન શકે કોઈ તોફાન, સાહસથી થાય છે વિજયની સત્યતા.

નાની-નાની કોશિશો સાથે, વણાય છે સફળતાની રાહ. નિષ્ફળતાઓથી ના ડરવું, દરેક અંધકારમાં ચમકે આશાનો દીપ.

Analyse Translations

Identify and discuss:

1. Which parts of the poem were challenging to translate? Why?

• Faiz Ahmed Faiz – मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत

Metaphors like “dark, brutal enchantments of countless centuries” and vivid imagery of wounds were hard to translate while keeping emotional intensity.

• W. B. Yeats – The Second Coming
  

Mythical and apocalyptic symbols (Spiritus Mundi, lion-headed figure) were challenging to convey in Hindi and Gujarati without losing the ominous tone.

• Dalpatram – स्त्री शिक्षा 

Social and metaphorical phrases like “foundation of society, like a strong fortress” needed careful phrasing to retain persuasive and poetic quality.

• सपनों की उड़ान

Abstract motivational expressions (“With courage comes the truth of victory”, “lamp of hope”) were tricky to render naturally while preserving the uplifting tone.

2. How were cultural connotations and collocations handled in the translation?

• Faiz Ahmed Faiz – मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत

Urdu phrases like “تاریک بہیمانہ طلسم” carry historical and mystical connotations. AI translated them literally, but human refinement was needed to convey the emotional and cultural depth in Hindi and English.

• W. B. Yeats – The Second Coming

Symbolic terms like “Spiritus Mundi” and references to desert landscapes required contextual adaptation in Hindi and Gujarati. AI maintained the imagery, but cultural interpretation was necessary to retain Yeats’ apocalyptic tone.

• Dalpatram – स्त्री शिक्षा

Social metaphors like “मजबूत किले की नींव” reflect Indian societal values. AI preserved meaning, but word choices had to be carefully aligned with target language collocations to sound natural and persuasive.

• सपनों की उड़ान

Motivational expressions like “आशा का दीप” and “विजय का सच” have cultural resonance in Hindi. AI translated them directly, but slight adjustments were needed in English/Gujarati to maintain symbolic and inspirational effect.

3. Were there untranslatable words or phrases? If yes, how did the AI tools resolve them?

Faiz Ahmed Faiz – مجھ سے پہلی سی محبت

• Words like “طلسم” (tilism/enchantment) and vivid imagery of wounds have no exact equivalents in Hindi or English.
• AI resolution: Offered literal or descriptive translations (e.g., “dark, brutal enchantments”) to convey meaning, though subtle poetic nuance needed human adjustment.

W. B. Yeats – The Second Coming

• Terms like “Spiritus Mundi” and surreal imagery are culturally and philosophically dense.
• AI resolution: Provided literal transliteration or approximate explanation, leaving interpretation for the reader or human translator.

Dalpatram – स्त्री शिक्षा

• Some social metaphors, e.g., “मजबूत किले की नींव” (“foundation of a strong fortress”), do not exist as fixed collocations in English.
• AI resolution: Translated metaphorically while preserving meaning, sometimes requiring stylistic refinement.

सपनों की उड़ान

• Abstract phrases like “विजय का सच” or “आशा का दीप” are culturally embedded.
• AI resolution: Converted to descriptive equivalents (“truth of victory”, “lamp of hope”), maintaining optimism but needing slight human polishing for poetic flow.

Explain the choices and considerations made during translation:

1. Did the metre or rhyme scheme influence the translation?

Faiz Ahmed Faiz – मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत

• Original Urdu poem has rhythmic and lyrical qualities, but strict rhyme and metre are difficult to replicate in Hindi or English.
• Translation choice: Focused on preserving meaning, imagery, and emotional tone rather than replicating exact rhyme or metre.

W. B. Yeats – The Second Coming

• Free verse with irregular rhythm and line length.
• Translation choice: Maintained line breaks and pauses to convey tension and ominous mood rather than strict metrical pattern.

Dalpatram – स्त्री शिक्षा

• Simple rhythmic structure in Gujarati.
• Translation choice: Retained parallelism and cadence in Hindi and English to preserve persuasive and poetic effect.

सपनों की उड़ान

• Short, motivational poem with a natural rhythmic flow.
• Translation choice: Preserved rhythmic pacing and repetition of key ideas (like dreams, hope, courage) over exact rhyme.

2. Were any liberties taken to retain the poem's tone and emotion?

Compare the translations:

Highlight differences between ChatGPT and Gemini outputs

Evaluate which tool performed better in retaining key aspects of the original poem.

Roman Jakobson: Translation as Interpretation

Jakobson’s idea that interlingual translation is an act of interpretation is visible in the AI translations analysed in this blog. Both ChatGPT and Gemini did not produce strict word-for-word equivalents. Instead, they interpreted meaning, particularly in emotionally rich poems like Faiz’s Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat. Differences in word choice, sentence structure, and imagery show that AI treated translation as meaning-making, rather than mechanical substitution.

J. C. Catford: Translation Shifts

Catford’s theory of translation shifts explains changes at lexical, grammatical, and structural levels. Where metre, rhythm, or syntax could not be preserved, AI tools shifted sentence order or modified culturally specific expressions. These shifts were especially evident in Yeats’s symbolic language and the inspirational tone of सपनों की उड़ान, 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 reflected in the retention of cultural references. The AI tools preserved social, mythological, and symbolic elements rather than replacing them. However, 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 evident in Gemini’s approach to Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat and The Second Coming, where tone, mood, and cultural resonance were prioritised over literal accuracy. Handling of inspirational and social themes across the poems confirms that context, not just language, shapes effective poetic translation.

Comparative Analysis Report

Poem 1: Faiz Ahmed Faiz – मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत

Syntax, Sound, and Metre:

The Urdu free-verse rhythm has internal musicality. Strict metre and rhyme were not preserved. ChatGPT maintained sentence order and poetic flow; Gemini rearranged syntax slightly for literal accuracy and emphasis on metaphors.

Lexicon, Grammar, and Semiotics:

Expressions like “vahshi jadoo-tone” (beastly spells) carry socio-political and emotional weight. Gemini’s choices preserved literal and semiotic strength; ChatGPT sometimes reworded for smoother reading.

Cultural Connotations and Collocations:

Romantic and tragic imagery posed challenges. Gemini foregrounded social critique clearly, whereas ChatGPT focused on lyrical expression.

Challenges and Resolutions:

Balancing love and social reality was hard. Gemini resolved this through literal reinforcement of imagery; ChatGPT emphasized emotional resonance.

Poem 2: W. B. Yeats – The Second Coming

Syntax, Sound, and Metre:

Loose iambic rhythm and prophetic cadence were difficult to reproduce. ChatGPT smoothed the structure; Gemini retained abrupt sentences to convey apocalyptic urgency.

Lexicon, Grammar, and Semiotics:

Terms like “Spiritus Mundi” are semiotically dense. Gemini preserved the original symbols, maintaining ambiguity; ChatGPT explained or simplified meanings.

Cultural Connotations and Collocations:

Western mythic and biblical references were largely retained. Gemini maintained symbolic opacity; ChatGPT made imagery more accessible.

Challenges and Resolutions:

Translating symbolism without over-explaining was difficult. Gemini minimized intervention; ChatGPT prioritized clarity.

Poem 3: Dalpatram – स्त्री शिक्षा

Syntax, Sound, and Metre:

Gujarati rhythm and oral tone were mostly preserved. ChatGPT enhanced persuasive and engaging metaphors; Gemini remained literal and faithful.

Lexicon, Grammar, and Semiotics:

Social and educational metaphors were central. ChatGPT adapted expressions for readability; Gemini retained literal meaning.

Cultural Connotations and Collocations:

Cultural context of women’s education was preserved by both. Gemini emphasized fidelity; ChatGPT emphasized clarity and engagement.

Challenges and Resolutions:

Conveying social persuasion while keeping literal accuracy was challenging. ChatGPT used expressive phrasing; Gemini prioritized fidelity.

Poem 4: सपनों की उड़ान

Syntax, Sound, and Metre:

Rhythmic motivational tone could not be perfectly preserved. ChatGPT produced a smooth, uplifting flow; Gemini remained literal but slightly stiff.

Lexicon, Grammar, and Semiotics:

Abstract terms like “power of the mind” and “lamp of hope” were translated literally by Gemini; ChatGPT enhanced poetic resonance.

Cultural Connotations and Collocations:

Inspirational tone was maintained by both tools. ChatGPT emphasized readability; Gemini emphasized precision.

Challenges and Resolutions:

Maintaining rhythm and inspiration while keeping literal meaning was challenging. ChatGPT focused on tone; Gemini on literal fidelity.

Reflection

This activity clarified that poetic translation is interpretive, creative, and culturally embedded, not just mechanical. Translating across Urdu, English, Hindi, and Gujarati highlighted how syntax, metre, sound, and imagery often shift to preserve meaning and emotion. Comparing ChatGPT and Gemini helped me understand the difference between literal fidelity and emotional resonance. I also learned to identify untranslatable elements, cultural connotations, and necessary translation shifts, connecting practice to Jakobson, Catford, Devy, and Ramanujan.

Overall, AI tools are valuable for translation, but human judgment remains irreplaceable, especially for capturing poetic tone, cultural depth, and emotional subtleties.

Thank You!!!