I love you goodbye so Much
A GAME OF TELEPHONE USING MACHINE TRANSLATION
Donald Trump’s iconic phrase translated through the languages of 10 "s-hole countries” becomes…
Creating More Americans!
translation path: Yoruba / Xhosa / Igbo / Sundanese / Sesotho / Shona / Zulu / Amharic / Somali / Kinarwanda
I take texts and Google translate them from language to language - usually a minimum of three times - before bringing them back into English.
The result is something akin to computational poetry as the nuance of one language is subsumed into another… and another.
Strange transpositions occur. Some words are remarkably persistent and durable (Hallelujah, for example) while other, simpler constructions prove remarkably unstable (he/her, she/him). Sometimes these translations strip away adornment and get straight to the point. At other times they obfuscate or take extreme poetic license. Often the same exact line repeated is rendered two different ways within the same text. How a machine perpetrates such an inconsistency is anyone’s guess. Ghosts are everywhere.
The choice of languages used for translation is always intentional; the Gettysburg Address for instance is rendered into the languages of recent trauma and civil war: Pashto, Bosnia, Arabic, and Swahili. At other times the choices are more whimsically decided.
We peer into language through the eyes of a machine endowed with all the fallibilities of its creator. We attempt to communicate a feeling, an emotion. We fail. But we try again. So it is with humans. So it is with our machines.
I Love You Goodbye So Much is an ongoing project. Ultimately I am looking to render these texts in a physical installation.
SAVE AMERICA RALLY - JANUARY 6TH 2021
Machine translated through recent nations to have experienced what is called Democratic Backsliding, or “autocratization”.
From Wikipedia: Political scientist Nancy Bermeo argues that blatant forms of democratic backsliding, such as classic, open-ended coups d'état and election-day fraud, have declined since the end of the Cold War, while more subtle and "vexing" forms of backsliding have increased. The latter forms of backsliding entail the debilitation of democratic institutions from within. These subtle forms are especially effective when they are legitimized through the very institutions that people expect to protect democratic values.”
Translation Path
English to Czech
Czech to Bengali
Bengali to Bulgarian
Bulgarian to Serbian
Serbian to English
ORIGINAL
All of us here today do not want to see our election victory stolen by a bold and radical left Democrats which is what they are doing and stolen by the fake news media. That is what they have done and what they are doing. We will never give up. We will never concede. It doesn't happen. You don't concede when there's theft involved.
Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore...
...But just remember this, you're stronger, you're smarter. You've got more going than anybody and they try and demean everybody having to do with us and you're the real people. You're the people that built this nation. You're not the people that tore down our nation...Our exciting adventures and boldest endeavors have not yet begun. My fellow Americans, for our movement, for our children, and for our beloved country, and I say this despite all that has happened, the best is yet to come.
So we are going to--we are going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue, I love Pennsylvania Avenue, and we are going to the Capitol, and we are going to try and give...give our Republicans, the weak ones because the strong ones don't need any of our help, we're try--going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country. So let's walk down Pennsylvania Avenue.
TRANSLATION
All of us here today do not want our election victory to be stolen by the heroic and radical leftists of the Democrats, which they are doing and stolen by the fake media. That’s what they did and are doing. We will never give up. We will never admit it. It didn't happen. When it comes to theft, you don't admit it.
Enough with us. We will not tolerate it anymore ...
... but remember, you are stronger, you are smarter. You are more than anyone else and they are trying to insult anyone who has anything to do with us, and you are the right person. You are the people who created this nation. You are not the one who will destroy our people ... Our exciting events and bold efforts have not yet begun. Fellow Americans, for our movement, for our children and for our beloved country, and despite everything that has happened, I say this, the best has not yet come.
So let's go - we will go to Pennsylvania Avenue, I love Pennsylvania Avenue and we will go to the capital and try to give ... to our republic, to the weak, because the strong do not need our help, we try - we try to give them such arrogance. They need the courage to make and return their land. So let’s take Pennsylvania Avenue.
Donald Trump at Mt Rushmore
On July 3rd 2020, in the midst of a widening pandemic, President Trump and thousands of supporters - mostly without masks - gathered at the base of Mt. Rushmore to celebrate the founding of the United States of America. It was a scene from a parallel universe as Mr. Trump barely mentioned the raging plague that has laid the country low. Instead he pulled the weary and degrading tactical levers of hate, misinformation and division. Here one portion of his speech is translated through through five languages of self-described fascist regimes in the 20th century.
Slovak
Japanese
Hungarian
German
Romanian
Machine Translation
1776 is the culmination of millennia in Western civilization, a victory not only of spirit but also of wisdom, philosophy and reason. If we meet here tonight, we risk threatening all the blessings our ancestors have fought. Our country has been a relentless campaign to erase history, slander heroes, erase values and vaccinate our children. The angry crowd is trying to destroy the statue of our founder, to underestimate the most sacred monuments and to unleash a wave of violent crime in our city. Many of these people do not know why they do it, but others know what they are doing. They believe that Americans are weak, tender and resilient, but Americans are strong and proud and will not allow us to rob our country and all its values, history and culture...
Original Version
1776 represented the culmination of thousands of years of Western civilization and the triumph of not only spirit, but of wisdom, philosophy, and reason. And yet, as we meet here tonight, there is a growing danger that threatens every blessing our ancestors fought so hard for, struggled, they bled to secure. Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values, and indoctrinate our children. Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities. Many of these people have no idea why they’re doing this, but some know what they are doing. They think the American people are weak and soft and submissive, but no, the American people are strong and proud and they will not allow our country and all of its values, history, and culture to be taken from them.
The Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in 1863. Its essential goal is to memorialize those who fought for the values of the union and to render sensible and meaningful something as senseless as death.
Here I have translated the address into languages spoken in countries that have recently suffered from civil war
English to Pashto (Afghanistan)
Pashto to Arabic (Syria, Yemen)
Arabic to Bosnian
Bosnian to Swahili (Rwanda)
Swahili to English
Machine translation
Four and seven years ago, our ancestors came to this great dry land, a new nation that was taken for granted, founded on the assumption that all humans were created equal.
We are now involved in a major civil war and are questioning whether this nation or any nation of commitment and commitment can last a long time. We saw him fight in the big square. We have come to give part of this place, as a last resort, to the people who gave their lives here for this nation to live. That is good and worth it.
But, broadly speaking, we cannot say - we cannot sacrifice - we cannot - this country. The brave, living and dead men, who fought here, consecrated it, are more than our weak strength to be added or hindered. The world will remember a bit, not much of what we say here, but one would never forget what they did here. This is life for us, not here, but we dedicate ourselves to the hidden work they have done here, the stage of their development. Instead of surrendering to the work we are still waiting - we are more interested in the cause of these deaths than he has given them the highest fulfillment - so we have power here. This will not die in vain - these people under God's direction will be born freely - and the people will not be destroyed.
Original version
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
American Carnage
Donald Trump’s 2017 Inaugural Address was titled American Carnage.
One of the first acts of the Trump administration was to impose a travel ban on Muslim nations. It was deemed unconstitutional, then revised for approval by the Supreme Court of the United States. Subsequent travel bans have been imposed since that time. Over 135 million human beings fall under the ban.
Here selections of American Carnage are translated through the languages spoken in the most recent countries added to the travel ban ahead of the 2020 general election.
The List:
Nigeria, (Igbo) - though English is the official language)
Myanmar, (Burmese)
Eritrea, (Tigrinya) - Not available in machine translation at this time.
Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz)
Sudan (Arabic - though official language is English and there are others spoken)
Tanzania (Bantu / Swahili)
Machine translation
In 2017 and 20, you will be honored by the heads of government of this country. Our team, men and women, will never forget the difference and will never forget. Now listen to them all.
Americans, as well as good and safe for your children, and family separation, thus lead to good work.
This decision was a just and reasonable society.
However, our citizens and children are poor in urban areas with many teams, in our industrial grave in our country. We had Sarah's room students. History 0 0 0 Lose Our Negative Differences.
I stop here for the American bomb.
To grow the economy through many foreign trucks.
I did not attend about one foreign army.
When we refuse to protect ourselves, we need to protect the boundaries of others.
Things from America out and billions of dollars in ruins, destruction and despair.
Our economy loses faith, power and other wealth.
On the other hand, protests were closed to protect millions of American workers and companies that have yet to be acquired.
We have had a wealth of middle-class families spread throughout the world and expanded from their homes.
But this is the last resort. In the future, we see now.
Now, for the first time, the United States of America.
Believe you win again
We rent to buy in America and USA, and there are two simple rules.
Contributing to the dedication of our country, will be achieved by the dedication of the United States of America is a political struggle.
If there is any discrimination, you can open the heart of the nation.
And women in the military and law enforcement agencies are protecting us. And most importantly, God protect us.
Yes, sing, and you should do more for our America. Thank you, thank you, God. America, God bless.
Original Version
January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer. Everyone is listening to you now.
Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves.
These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.
But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.
This American carnage stops right here and stops right now...
For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry;
Subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military;
We’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own;
And spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.
We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon.
One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind.
The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.
But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future...
From this moment on, it’s going to be America First…
America will start winning again, winning like never before...
We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American.
At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.
When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.
We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God...
And, Yes, Together, We Will Make America Great Again. Thank you, God Bless You, And God Bless America.