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Welcome!

This is where I keep my translation related things of all kinds: music, essays, adaptations. I hope it is useful to you. I focus on Turkish to English translation so this site is primarily meant for English speakers.
You should also check out... Witch Love - A fan-translation group which focuses on games. They have translated the first 2.5 episodes of Umineko, which I also worked on!

Anatolian Rock Revival Project - Assortment of close to 200 anatolian rock pieces, all translated to English. I cannot recommmend that you check out this channel enough. No better place to get a taste of the genre. Almost makes what I'm doing a bit redundant, hm.

Istanbul University Journal of Translation Studies - What it says on the tin. Released biannually by one of the most esteemed universities in Turkiye. Focuses on all aspects of translation, not just Turkiye and its neighboring cultures.
I want to give my thanks to my professors, my middle school English teacher and to Tureng, of course.

Why is it so difficult to translate gay slang?

Homophobic Slurs Mentioned Ahead

The process of localization is a complicated one. In an ideal world, a translation would both be perfectly accurate to the source material AND perfectly understandable to the target audience, but unfortunately, these two goals directly oppose each other at times. How could they not when the two cultures can be so different? So, concessions have to be made. That much is understandable. Things get blurry when censorship is involved, though. That's what makes localizing queer slang especially difficult.

And I do prefer the term "localizing" here, as a lot of queer terminology in English is specific to their queer circles. Take the word "stud", for example. You could localize it as a masculine lesbian or just 'tomboy', but stud is specifically used by and for African American lesbians. Besides, like the word butch, it can specifically refer to the subculture that formed in the mid 20th century by working class lesbians.

Well, how do we go about it, then? It depends on your priorities. There is a very interesting option, though: Lubunca, secret queer cant of İstanbul.

It was used by queer people and sex workers when gay sex work became illegal. For a lot of trans women especially, working in bars and brothels were their only option so they naturally gravitated towards places like Beyoğlu, where bars and such were common. And the jargon took shape there.

It borrows words from all sorts of languages spoken in İstanbul, but primarily Romani. You don't know how to translate words like twink, switch, top etc. which don't have a direct equivalent? Well, Lubunca has words for that. The best part about it is that these words were invented by queer people, unlike most other Turkish words for gay people. Other options available aren't actually used in gay circles, but are used as insults by outsiders. That's why I don't like the word 'sevici' being used in Cemile Çakır's translation of Stone Butch Blues, for example. I understand the temptation as sevici literary translates to 'gives love' which covers the 'stone' part of stone butch quite well. However, sevici is primarily used for extreme deviancy, like 'ölü sevici' for necrophilia or eşek sevici (donkey lover) being used as insults directed at Kurds.

Sadly, there is one big, really obvious issue with Lubunca. It's SECRET jargon. One that is dwindling in usage. Your audience might have trouble understanding what is being meant. Very interestingly, the Turkish subtitles for South Park deliberately makes use of Lubunca's unknown status as a form of censorship, apparently. Using it for words that *do* have much more colloquial equivalents (like shit/feces), even *making up* Lubunca words at times. I don't rly want to watch South Park just to confirm this for 100% sure but the source is reputable [DOI: 10.26650/iujts.2024.1552761 , by Cihan Alan]. Still, it's useful. Here is a list if you need it.

This is definitely not all, I should note. I have no real experience hearing any of this so I had to rely on internet sources. The word 'Lubunya' itself could either mean a feminine bottom gay or queer depending on who you ask.

For those who don't like Lubunca, there are still options. A lot of them are functionally slurs, though. They can work in cases where slang is used derogatorily. In the Turkish dub of Hazbin Hotel, the phrase "Fuck you, twink!" is localized as "Siktir git, ibne!", "ibne" being an almost exact equivalent to faggot. I do think that you lose something by changing twink to a slur but that's the whole making concessions thing I'm talking about. A less extreme word with the same meaning would be "top". It's unrelated to top as in pitcher, it means "ball" in Turkish. Kind of funny to think about since heterosexuals are called straight.

Some words get used as insults so much that the original meaning is lost. "Puşt" being the main one. It originally meant "an passive gay man". Active and passive are what Turkish uses to mean top and bottom (as adjectives), which is a bit funny since "puşt" comes from the Farsi word for back, or ass. No one uses it this way anymore either way.

My opinion when it comes to these things is to not stress about the exact meaning too much unless it is necessary, and to keep the speaker's intent in mind. In some cases where queerness is a major element, I can see Lubunca being more appropriate, but overall I'd much rather use a more familiar term that doesn't fit exactly rather than something that the vast majority people won't understand (unless that goes for the original term as well). Turkish/Anatolian gay culture isn't significantly different from that of the Anglo sphere's, even if we don't have terms for some things that doesn't mean we are unfamiliar with those concepts. You can leave some of the legwork to your audience by letting them extrapolate.

CEM KARACA

The legendary rock singer and one of the originators of anatolian rock. He was accused of being a marxist-leninist and got exiled. It took him a decade to be allowed to return. He worked with many different bands in his lifetime.

Resimdeki Gözyaşları (Tears in the Picture)

Listen Here -

Bir gün belki hayattan
Geçmişteki günlerden
Bir teselli ararsın
Bak o zaman resmime
Gör akan o yaşları

Benden sana son kalan (ey-pa)
Bir küçük resim şimdi (ey-pa)
Cevap veremez ama (ey-pa)
Ağlar yalnızlığına

Ve işte arda kalan
Bir avuç anı şimdi
Koyup da bir başıma
Bırakıp gittin beni

Bir gün belki hayattan (ey-pa)
Geçmişteki günlerden (ey-pa)
Bir teselli ararsın (ey-pa)
Bak o zaman resmime

Sen yalnız değilsin
Biliyorum ner'desin
Bu üzerdi beni
Yaşasaydım ve görseydim

Bir gün belki hayattan (ey-pa)
Geçmişteki günlerden (ey-pa)
Bir teselli arasın (ey-pa)
Bak o zaman resmime
Gör akan o yaşları

Maybe one day, from life
From bygone days
You'll look for solace
Look at my picture then
See those falling tears

What's left of me to you
is but a small picture now
It can't answer but
It weeps for your loneliness

And what's remaining
is a handful of memories now
You left me all by myself
You went away

Maybe one day, from life
From bygone days
You'll look for solace
Look at my picture then

You are not alone
I know where you are (in life)*
This would sadden me
Had I lived to see it

Maybe one day, from life
From bygone days
You'll look for solace
Look at my picture then
See those falling tears

TL's Notes * I know this sounds weirdly threatening but in my defense it also sounds that way in the original.
This one is one of my favourites. Did you know that Cem Karaca released an English version of it as well? You can listen to it here. His singing style are quite different, though, which changes the tone quite a lot.

1 Mayıs (May 1st)

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Günlerin bugün getirdiği baskı zulüm ve kandır
Ancak bu böyle gitmez, sömürü devam etmez
Yepyeni bir hayat gelir, bizde ve her yerde

1 Mayıs, 1 Mayıs; işçinin, emekçinin bayramı
Devrimin şanlı yolunda ilerleyen halkın bayramı

Yepyeni bir güneş doğar dağların doruklarından
Mutlu bir hayat filizlenir kavganın ufuklarından
Yurdumun mutlu günleri mutlak gelen gündedir

1 Mayıs, 1 Mayıs; işçinin, emekçinin bayramı
Devrimin şanlı yolunda ilerleyen halkın bayramı

Ulusların gürleyen sesi yeri göğü sarsıyor
Halkların nasırlı yumruğu balyoz gibi patlıyor
Devrimin şanlı dalgası dünyamızı kaplıyor

Gün gelir, gün gelir zorbalar kalmaz gider
Devrimin şanlı yolunda kül gibi savrulur gider
Devrimin şanlı yolunda kül gibi savrulur gider

What the days bring today are oppression, persecution and blood
However, things shan't go on like this, exploitation shall not continue
A newfound life shall come, to us and everywhere

May 1st! May 1st! Celebration of the worker, of the laborer
The celebration of the people walking the glorious path towards the revolution

A brand-new sun rises, from the peak of the mountains
A happy life shall blossom, in the horizon of the struggle
The happy future of my homeland, is on that day that will come certainly

May 1st! May 1st! Celebration of the worker, of the laborer
The celebration of the people walking the glorious path towards the revolution

The booming voice of the nations shakes the ground and the skies
The callused hands of the people burst like a sledgehammer
The glorious waves of the revolution spreads to our world

The times comes, the comes, the tyrants shan't stay no more
In the glorious path of the revolution, they shall dissipate like ashes
In the glorious path of the revolution, they shall dissipate like ashes

In case you had any doubts about of him being leftist. Cem Karaca is a protest singer, he just doesn't get branded as such. Intentionally.

ASIA MINOR

From their site: Asia Minor is a Franco-Turkish progressive rock band, led by two Turkish musicians who settled in Paris as students back in the 70’s: Setrak BAKIREL (vocals & guitar) and Eril TEKELI (flute & guitar). They were quickly joined by Lionel BELTRAMI (drums & percussions), followed by Robert KEMPLER (keyboards & bass) 2 years later.

Hayal Dolu Günler İçin (For Days Filled With Dreams)

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Derdine derman bul
Hayale dal ümitle

Var gücünle çalış
Varacaksın hedefe

Pişman olma sakın
İnan her an kendine.

Gün gelir anlarsın
Boş verirsin kedere

Hayat sudur
Akar gider

Yolcu doğar
Yaşar, gider

Find a remedy for your malady
Daydream with hope

Work with all your might
You will reach your goal

Don't dare to start regetting
Believe yourself always

One day you'll understand
You'll get past the despair

Life is like water
It flows, goes away

A traveler is born
He lives, passes away *

TL's Notes * The 'passes away' and goes away' in these verses use the same word with different meanings, 'gitmek', which simply means to go.

Mahzun Gözler (Downcast Eyes)

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Sessiz gecenin sokaklarında
Arar durmadan o sevgiliyi
Şehrin karanlıklarında
Mutsuz yollarında

Mahzun gözleri bitkin ve halsizdir
Haykırır durur adını her gece
Sevgi denince aklına her an o gelir
Kara sevdası, sevgilisi

Sessiz gecenin sokaklarında
Arar durmadan o sevgiliyi
Şehrin karanlıklarında
Mutsuz yollarında

O kara sevdalı (O kara sevdalı)
O kara sevdalı (O kara sevdalı)
O kara sevdalı (O kara sevdalı)
O kara sevdalı (O kara sevdalı)*

In the streets of the silent night
He searches nonstop for his beloved
In the dark of the city
In its unhappy roads

His downcast eyes are weary and tired
He shouts her name every night
When one says love, he thinks of her
His blind love, his beloved

In the streets of the silent night
He searches nonstop for his beloved
In the dark of the city
In its unhappy roads

He is lovesick (He is lovesick)
He is lovesick (He is lovesick)
He is lovesick (He is lovesick)
He is lovesick (He is lovesick) *

TL's Notes * The lyrics could alternatively be "Ooo kara sevdalı (Ooo kara sevdalı)" in which case it would be tranlated as "Ooh lovesick one, (Ooh lovesick one)"

3 HÜREL

Also called Üç Hürel. They give more weight to the 'anatolian' part of anatolian rock. They're very good at well known adapting folk music in a more fresh way.

Bir Sevmek Bin Defa Ölmek Demekmiş (To Love is to Die a Thousand Times)

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Aşkın şarabından bilmeden içtim
Sevda yolundan bilmeden geçtim
Aşkın bir alevmiş, yâr, yâr, bir ateş parçası

Bilmeden gönlümü ateşe verdim
Bilmeden gönlümü ateşe verdim

Bir sevmek bin defa ölmek demekmiş
Bir sevmek bin defa ölmek demekmiş
Bin defa ölüp de hiç ölmemekmiş
Bin defa ölüp de ölememekmiş

Without knowing, I drank from the wine of love
Without knowing, I passed through the path of love
Your love was a flame, darling, darling, piece of a flame

Without knowing, I lit my heart on fire
Without knowing, I lit my heart on fire

To love once is to die a thousand times
To love once is to die a thousand times
To die a thousand times but to not pass away
To die a thousand times but to not be able to pass away*

TL's Notes * Same word used for "die" and "pass away", it sounds a bit silly in English so I changed it.
my favourite version is the one sang by Barış Akarsu, an anatolian rock singer who qquickly rose to fame in mid 2000s, "past the prime" of the genre. I don't doubt that he would be one of the greats if he wasn't taken from us so early, at the age of 28.

BARIŞ MANÇO

One of the most well known artists from Turkiye, ever. A lot of the characteristics of Anatolian Rock were introduced to the country by him. The main theme in his songs is love/romance, and the psychedelic rock roots of the genre really shows in his music. He is also a somewhat controversial figure due to some things concerning his personal life.

Kara Sevda (Blind Love)

Listen Here -

Nasıl anlatsam bilemiyorum, içim içime sığmıyor
O deli dolu, neşe dolu kişi ben değilim sanki (sanki, sanki)
Dışarısı buz gibi lapa lapa kar var, benim içim yanıyor
-40 derece soğuk suda bile yüzerim inan ki (inan ki, inan ki)

[Nakarat] Kara sevda, kara sevda dedikleri daha ne olabilir ki?
Kara sevda, kara sevda, seni benden kim ayırabilir ki?
Çocukça bir aşk deyip de geçme, sakın gülme halime
Nasıl olduğunu anlayamadım ama seviyorum seni delicesine

Kara sevda

Nasıl anlatsam bilemiyorum, gözlerim kararıyor
Tepe taklak oldu dünya tersine sanki (sanki, sanki)
Bütün aşıklar el ele, kol kola, cıvıl cıvıl geziyor
Bense Nuh'un gemisinde tek başıma gibi inan ki (inan ki, inan ki)

[Nakarat] Kara sevda, kara sevda dedikleri daha ne olabilir ki?
Kara sevda, kara sevda, seni benden kim ayırabilir ki?
Çocukça bir aşk deyip de geçme, sakın gülme halime
Nasıl olduğunu anlayamadım ama seviyorum seni delicesine

Kara sevda
[Nakarat] Kara sevda, kara sevda dedikleri daha ne olabilir ki?
Kara sevda, kara sevda, seni benden kim ayırabilir ki?
Çocukça bir aşk deyip de geçme, sakın gülme halime
Nasıl olduğunu anlayamadım ama seviyorum seni delicesine

Kara sevda

Çocukça bir aşk deyip de geçme, sakın gülme halime
Nasıl olduğunu anlayamadım ama seviyorum seni delicesine
Kara sevda
Kara sevda
Kara sevda

I don't know how to describe it, I'm getting overwhelmed
It's as though that lively, zappy person isn't me (as though, as though)
Outside is freezing, snowflakes falling down, while my chest is burning *
I'd even swim in -40 degree water, believe me (believe me, believe me)

[Chorus] Blind love, blind love, what else could it be?
Blind love, blind love, who could seperate you from me?
Don't dismiss it as a childish crush, don't you laugh at my state
I can't understand how it happened but I love you like crazy

Blind love

I don't know how to describe it, my vision is going dark
It's as though the world has turned upside down (as though, as though)
All the lovers are hand-in-hand, arm-in-arm, going about chirpily
Whereas it's like I'm all alone in Noah's ark, believe me (believe me, believe me)

[Chorus] Blind love, blind love, what else could it be?
Blind love, blind love, who could seperate you from me?
Don't dismiss it as a childish crush, don't you laugh at my state
I can't understand how it happened but I love you like crazy

Blind love
[Chorus] Blind love, blind love, what else could it be?
Blind love, blind love, who could seperate you from me?
Don't dismiss it as a childish crush, don't you laugh at my state
I can't understand how it happened but I love you like crazy

Blind love

Don't dismiss it as a childish crush, don't you laugh at my state
I couldn't understand how it happened but I love you like crazy
Blind love
Blind love
Blind love

TL's Notes * "Lapa lapa" refers to heavy snow with big flakes. A white out could be an appropriate equivalent also.
"Blind love" is interesting. In this usage, it is not being blind as in being unable to see a person's faults, but as in being unable to see anything besides that person.

I am a advocate for translating kara sevda as "doomed, obsessive love" but it is not required to be both. It can just be one. It didn't feel appropriate to use "doomed love" because of that, I don't think the speaker thinks their love is impossible as much as it is all-consuming. I really wish this word had a proper English equivalent.
It's not my area of expertise, I don't think I've ever had something even resembling a crush.