’n Verslag oor die vertaling van dertien Jacques Brel-chansons in Afrikaans

Abstract

A report on the translation of thirteen Jacques Brel chansons into Afrikaans
The authors of this article also translated the thirteen Jacques Brel chansons in question into Afrikaans. A brief explanation of the generic nature of the French chanson and an evaluation of Brel’s stature as a twentieth-century chanson writer are followed by background details and a description of the translation process involved. Since literary quality is a particular characteristic of chanson lyrics, several paragraphs are dedicated to a discussion of the poetic nature of Brel’s songs.