Traditionally, ancient storytellers added melody to their sentences. Understandable. Communication was scarce without TVs and Cell Phones, and words should be embellished to raise attention. Some great authors included rhythms in their writings which are better enjoyed when read aloud. But it's a nightmare for translators. Melodies could be reproduced in poems and small sentences but not in long texts and novels. And I write it with sadness, but I doubt people will kneel around minarets to listen to the Quran recitation in any other language than Arab. The proper meaning will be there, but not the magical emotion that comes from the melody. For that same reason, the best novel written in Portuguese will be forever out of reach for foreigners. Guimaraes Rosa, while writing his spectacular "Grande Sertão: Veredas," privileged the melody of the sentences, creating inexistent words and uncommon grammatical constructions. I know that brave translators who I admire might be upset with my words, but let's face it, Dia-do-rim would never have the same meaning in any other language.
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