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Freedom / Liberty / Liberties

by richardhall, August 24, 2012

Messages: 8

Language: English

richardhall (User's profile) August 24, 2012, 9:01:49 PM

I'm thinking about a translation of one of Billy Bragg's lyrics. My main problem is the chorus: "Oh Freedom, what liberties are taken in thy name" Is there a translation that captures the English wordplay?

erinja (User's profile) August 24, 2012, 9:26:34 PM

Considering that freedom and liberty are both "libereco" in Esperanto, you will never get quite the same effect.

But taking liberties basically means doing things that you shouldn't be doing, but that you can do, because you are free. Right?

So maybe something like "Ho, libereco, kion oni liberis fari vianome?" - I think it gives a slight implication that the things that people were free to do weren't necessarily all good.

richardhall (User's profile) August 24, 2012, 9:33:37 PM

erinja:So maybe something like "Ho, libereco, kion oni liberis fari vianome?" - I think it gives a slight implication that the things that people were free to do weren't necessarily all good.
Thanks Erinja. I take it that there isn't an e-o equivalent of the English idiom "taking liberties"

sudanglo (User's profile) August 24, 2012, 9:36:42 PM

Ho, Libereco, kiel libervole oni agas en via nomo.

En la nomo and en via nomo are well supported by hits in the Tekstaro. But although vianome gets no hits, it is perfectly valid.

creedelambard (User's profile) August 24, 2012, 11:42:46 PM

I think you might have to take a different approach and come up with something that echoes the sentiment of the lyrics rather than going for a close translation of "taking liberties." Something like "Ho Libereco, kiajn malliberecojn oni faras por vi" or "en vi' nomo." But that doesn't scan all that well.

You will also need to come up with something that fits the pattern of the chorus "What liberties are taken / what liberties are taken / what liberties are taken in thy name." That's going to be a challenge.

sudanglo (User's profile) August 25, 2012, 10:22:38 AM

Take the liberty of - agi laŭvole sen peti permeson, aŭ sen antaŭa interkonsento.

Take liberties - agi trude, propravole.

What a liberty! Kiel malĝentile! Kia altrudo!

richardhall (User's profile) August 25, 2012, 7:46:31 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. Time to do some thinking... ridulo.gif

Altebrilas (User's profile) August 25, 2012, 9:49:46 PM

I would suggest this translation:
Ho, Libereco, kiel filibere oni agas en via nomo.

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