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Hamburg (dpa) - Hoffmann und Campe Verlag commissioned three translators to translate the poem "The Hill We Climb" by US poet Amanda Gorman.
"To translate such a special poem, we took the liberty of forming a team of three translators, each with their own expertise and experience," said publisher Tim Jung of the German Press Agency.
On the one hand, it was of course a matter of translating the poem into German in terms of sound and rhythm, but above all in tone.
"And at the same time the team should have a sensitivity for the text and for the person Amanda Gorman, a young black woman with an intersectional understanding," said Jung.
The poetry translator Uda Strätling, the Muslim and feminist author Kübra Gümüşay and the political scientist with a focus on the black diaspora and language Hadija Haruna-Oelker were commissioned with the translation.
They translated the poem into German together.
“Amanda Gorman herself also contributed indirectly to the translation by being available for questions,” said Jung.
With her lecture at the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, the young African American caused a sensation worldwide.
The poem will be published in a bilingual edition by Hoffmann and Campe on March 30th, followed by a volume of poems and a children's book in September.
In the Netherlands, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld had withdrawn because there were calls for a black translator.
The assignment was withdrawn from the Catalan translator Victor Obiols because he had the wrong «profile».
"We made our decision to hire a team for the German translation long before the events in the Netherlands and Catalonia," said Jung.
However, the debate shows that translators are indispensable ambassadors and bridge builders.
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Amanda Gorman at Hoffmann and Campe