Limerick lecturer translates Shakespeare's sonnets into Irish

A LECTURER at University of Limerick has translated William Shakespeare’s sonnets into Irish using iambic pentameter.

Dr Sorcha de Brún, UL lecturer in Modern Irish Language and Literature, has translated several of Shakespeare’s sonnets from English to Irish using the technique – a rhythm or ‘meter’ the Bard famously used in his works.

The first of these have been published in Comhar literary magazine, with more due later this year.

Explaining why she embarked upon such a difficult task, Dr de Brún said: “I was inspired by a couple of different Irish language writers and poets saying to me, ‘no, you cannot translate or bring across iambic pentameter from English to Irish’, and my response was ‘oh I think I can!

“My main inspiration was the experiences and the emotions that Shakespeare depicts in the sonnets. They are so universal, they are so human, and still relevant today.

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“Shakespeare is obviously one of the greatest writers to ever live, so to be able to bring that over to a minority language, does a lot both in terms of internationalisation, and also in relation to what we can do to show the relationship between Irish and English literature. It shows how flexible and creative language can be,” said Dr de Brún.

Dr de Brún’s work on the sonnets is closely linked to the innovative research conducted by UL’s Irish department.

 “I have a PhD student doing a comparative study on contemporary Irish and English language literature. This is an area that really hasn't been researched very much.”

Dr de Brún also noted the role AI has played in the disruption of translation, “It’s important to remember though that different forms of AI have been with us for quite a while and some very innovative genres of literature that often cross over with music and visual art, such as electronic literature, are made possible by the use of AI.

“However, I think literature will always need translators, and this is where transcreation comes into its own, where you not only translate the language, but translate the culture as well.”

“This is the future of the Irish language, this is where the opportunities are,” added Dr de Brún.

Dr de Brún has currently translated 20 percent of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets. She continues to work through them and when complete, the UL academic plans to publish them as a book.