Translations

Eiona would be the first to admit that she’s not very good at Welsh Translation despite gaining a Cert. Ed. from the Uni. of Wales’ Trinity College, Carmarthen in 1976 which certifies her to teach Welsh as a second language.

She finds it easier to translate from Welsh into English for two reasons; one being that she’s a bit rusty as she doesn’t mix within Welsh speaking circles; the other being that the Welsh language is evolving so rapidly. The ‘language of the street’ or ‘urban language’ is less formal than the classic way she learned it as a child.

‘Wenglish’ is also often spoken very much within South Wales therefore this makes it difficult to strike a balance between correct grammar, and language which Dai Public (sic) understands.

Another factor is the rapid and continuing increase of scientific terminology for which there’s yet to be a Welsh translation. This is why most of Eiona’s translations are of poetry where she can use poetic licence and somehow in many cases even manage to make it rhyme without the essence or spirit of the work being lost in translation.

Eiona takes on commissions on a casual basis - if anyone wants anything translated then she’ll give it a go. Some works have gone on to be published mostly within local papers, or occasionally the Anglo - Welsh Press in which Eiona uses a pseudonym.