The 2023 Ireland/ Taiwan Poetry Translation Competition , a collaborative effort between Trinity Centre for Literary & Cultural Translation at Trinity College Dublin and the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland, announced the winners today. The competition, centered around the Hakka poem "天光" (Sky Light) specially created by Taiwanese poet Tseng Kuei-hai, revealed the English translation victors: Taiwanese Hakka translator Lee Luo and Irish translator Michael Sharkey from Northern Ireland.
James Hadley, Director of the Trinity Centre for Literary & Cultural Translation, noted that the quality of submissions for this year's competition was the highest in its history. Among the 17 translated works that passed the initial screening, there were virtually no translation errors. Emphasizing both fidelity and fluency, the judges particularly underscored the high standard of elegance. This implies a special focus on the artistic value of the translated English poetry and its connection to the tradition of Irish poetry.
To highlight contemporary trends, Hadley incorporated AI tools into the event. The AI model imitated the styles of Nobel laureate Irish poet Seamus Heaney and prolific contemporary writer Eoin McNarmee, who teaches at Trinity College Dublin, serving as a reference point. This exploration aimed to discuss the crucial role of translators in the era of artificial intelligence.
Hadley stated that the two winning translations demonstrated creative interpretations of ambiguity and ambiguity in poetry. Simultaneously, they successfully echoed the unique and intricate phonetic variations of Hakka and the exuberant emotions of Hakka culture in English. These works stood out by showcasing individual styles distinct from artificial intelligence translation.
From top left to bottom right: Director of the Trinity Centre for Literary & Cultural Translation James Hadley, one of the victors Mr. Lo Lee, Representative of the TRO Pierre Yang, the other victors Mr. Michael Sharkey, Taiwanese poet Tseng Kuei-hai.
