Tag: Hungarian

From 2000 February UN promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism on International Mother Language Day. While among many related issues UNESCO focuses this year on the efforts towards a multilingual internet, it is also important to draw attention to the importance of multilingual education, teaching children  to understand what might not be provided to them in their mother language. I for one cannot imagine my life without the ability to speak and understand other languages besides my mother tongue. One of those other languages being English, the most widely used language of the world surely has quite a lot…

I love this one by Robert Burns although I have to admit the language with the Scottish flavour is a little hard for me. Plus we have a beautiful translation in Hungarian by Sándor Weöres. Hungarian speakers can find it below. 🙂 ________________________________________________________ Robert Burns: Oh Wert Thou In The Cauld Blast Oh wert thou in the cauld blast, On yonder lea, on yonder lea, My plaidie to the angry airt, I’d shelter thee, I’d shelter thee; Or did misfortune’s bitter storms Around thee blaw, around thee blaw, Thy bield should be my bosom, To share it a’, to share…

Since it’s his birthday, I start with one of my favorites from Attila József. First in Hungarian, then in English, and for the Spanish speaking readers, I recently found a Spanish translation on this all about Attila József Tumblr page. ______________________________________________________ József Attila: Kopogtatás nélkül Ha megszeretlek, kopogtatás nélkül bejöhetsz hozzám, de gondold jól meg,szalmazsákomra fektetlek, porral sóhajt a zizegő szalma. A kancsóba friss vizet hozok be néked,cipődet, mielőtt elmégy, letörlöm,itt nem zavar bennünket senki,görnyedvén ruhánkat nyugodtan foltozhatod. Nagy csönd a csönd, néked is szólok,ha fáradt vagy, egyetlen székemre leültetlek,melegben levethetsz nyakkendőt, gallért,ha éhes vagy, tiszta papirt kapsz tányérul, amikor…