Translating The Art of War
Posted: 30 Jan 2023 19:17
Greetings all,
I’ve been on and off attempting to translate the classic, The Art of War into Mando’a and I’ve just finished chapter one. Honestly I’m not sure why no one has done it before, I mean if any book would be perfect for a Mando’ade… My translation mostly used the dictionary from mandocreator and the forums from here, but I still feel I’m missing some pretty glaring flaws in what I have currently translated. I’m hoping someone here wouldn’t mind looking over my work and helping me improve my understanding of Mando’a.
Please and thank you for the help!
The Art of War
Gotal’mesh be Akaan
By Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
Chapter One
Miit’tsad Solus
I. Laying Plans
1 Tsikador Dajune
1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.
1 Sun Tzu ru’sirbu: gotal’mesh be akaan orine jaon’ynce alom.
2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
2 Bic tionas be oyac bal kry’am, goyust ogir’olar morut’yc ra haran. Jor’bic bic kebi tionir meg liser bat nayc cuyir digu.
3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.
3 Gotal’mesh be akaan jor’bic alori de rayshe’a darasuum parile cuyir dajuna par o’r gar mirgaanla, tion’tuur kebbu ja’hailir bana o’r kyrbet.
4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.
4 Ibice: (1) Ijaat An’gyce; (2) Tra; (3) Veh; (4) Al’verde; (5) Tolase bal Kov’briik.
5,6. The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.
5/6 Ijaat ang’yce gotal’u droten cuyir solus ti val alor, ibac val shekemir kaysh ne’mirgaanla be val oyayc, dar’chaab de an burk’yc.
7. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
7 Tra gaigotalu ca bal tuur, ciryc bal nadala, ca’nara bal canar.
8. Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
8 Veh gaigotalu chaaj, ori bal kih; buruk bal morut’yc; tenn vhetin bal shib spirba; cuyete be oyayc bal kyr’am.
9. The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.
9 Al’verde gaigotalu jate’amman be suvarir, hayc, dinu’yc, mirshko, bal kov’briik.
10. By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.
10 Cuyir goy bal kov’briik cuyir suvarir joruu be akaan’ade bic staabi paril shaadla be kedin o’r alom, tayli goyust cuyir oyu’galan ret olaro akaan’ade bal ke’gyce akaan waadas’primmur.
11. These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.
11 Ibice rayshe’a kovid enteyor cuyir buyaci anay alor: kaysh tion’ad kar’taylir bic liser cuyir parjir; kaysh tion’ad nakiar’mir trattok’or.
12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:
12 Jor’bic, gar mirganla, tion’tuur kebbu j’ahailir akaan bana, bic cuyir gotal ruusaar be ja’haili, ibic goy:
13. (1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law?
13 (1) Megin be t’ad alore haili ti Ijaat an’gyce?
(2) Which of the two generals has most ability?
(2) Megin be t’ad verd’alore jatnese be jatnese?
(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth?
(3) tion’ad tayli riye teh tra bal veh?
(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?
(4) Bat megin eso kov’briik or’ne ruus’sa ru’vaabi?
(5) Which army is stronger?
(5) Megin akaan’ade kotyc?
(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained?
(6) Bat megin eso alore bal verde or’ne laamishya ru’baj’hibir?
(7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?
(7) O’r megin akaan’ade ogir or’ne arasuumir bintar o’r ber bal gratii?
14. By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat.
14 de goy be Ibice e’tad mirgaanla ni liser ven’dajunar parjai ra rohak.
15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:--let such a one be dismissed!
15 Verd’alor ibic sushir net miite bal narir bat, shukalari vercopa solus cuyir tayli alom! Verd’alor ibac sushir naasad net miite me narir bat, aarayir rohak: vercopa solus cuyir ba’slanar!
16. While heading the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules.
16 Vaal sushir orilin ner miite joruur gar be an pirimmuy bana jaon bal suum nu’amyc an’gyce.
17. According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one's plans.
17 Bid bana riye, solus enteyor am solus dajune.
18. All warfare is based on deception.
18 An akaan ruusaar bat hodar.
19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
19 Jor’bic tion’tuur liser ram’or, mhi enteyor jenarar laandor; tion’tuur pirimmur cuun trat’ade, mhi enteyor jenarar arasuum’la; tion’tuur mhi pirebu, mhi enteyor gotal’ur aru’e urmankalar mhi chaaj’yc be’chaaj; tion’tuur chaaj’yc be’chaaj mhi enteyor gotal’ur kaysh urmankalar mhi pirebu.
20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
20 Taylir dayn jekai yacur aru’e. Jehaatir dar’ke’gyce bal shuk’orok kaysh.
21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.
21 Meh kaysh morut’yc an taap, cuyir tsikala par kaysh. Meh kaysh o’r jatnese kotyc eyaytir kaysh.
22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
22 Meh gar aru’e be a’den aman, kebbur takisit kaysh. Jehaatir cuyir laandur, ibac kaysh ret drashaar g’yail’kayst.
23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.
23 Meh kaysh honor kaysh udes dinuir kaysh nayc udes meh kaysh trat’ade solus, dar’tome.
24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
24 Ram’or kaysh vaii kaysh ru’tsikadad olaror vaii gar naasade ven’dajunar.
25. These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
25 Ibice akaan an’gyce alori parjai, enteyor naasad cuyir din’kartay vaar.
26. Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.
26 Jii verd’alor tion’ad parjir akaan gotal’ur ori’sol mirdir o’r kaysh yaim ru akaan akaanir. Verd’alor tion’ad trattok’or akaan gotal’ur al kisol mirdir sol’yc. Bid vaabir ori’sol mirdir alorir parjir bal kisol mirdir ruhakar tion’solet nayc mirdir an! De kar’tayl ibic taap ibac ni liser ven’dajunar tion’ad ven parjir ra trattok’or.
I’ve been on and off attempting to translate the classic, The Art of War into Mando’a and I’ve just finished chapter one. Honestly I’m not sure why no one has done it before, I mean if any book would be perfect for a Mando’ade… My translation mostly used the dictionary from mandocreator and the forums from here, but I still feel I’m missing some pretty glaring flaws in what I have currently translated. I’m hoping someone here wouldn’t mind looking over my work and helping me improve my understanding of Mando’a.
Please and thank you for the help!
The Art of War
Gotal’mesh be Akaan
By Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
Chapter One
Miit’tsad Solus
I. Laying Plans
1 Tsikador Dajune
1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.
1 Sun Tzu ru’sirbu: gotal’mesh be akaan orine jaon’ynce alom.
2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
2 Bic tionas be oyac bal kry’am, goyust ogir’olar morut’yc ra haran. Jor’bic bic kebi tionir meg liser bat nayc cuyir digu.
3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.
3 Gotal’mesh be akaan jor’bic alori de rayshe’a darasuum parile cuyir dajuna par o’r gar mirgaanla, tion’tuur kebbu ja’hailir bana o’r kyrbet.
4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.
4 Ibice: (1) Ijaat An’gyce; (2) Tra; (3) Veh; (4) Al’verde; (5) Tolase bal Kov’briik.
5,6. The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.
5/6 Ijaat ang’yce gotal’u droten cuyir solus ti val alor, ibac val shekemir kaysh ne’mirgaanla be val oyayc, dar’chaab de an burk’yc.
7. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
7 Tra gaigotalu ca bal tuur, ciryc bal nadala, ca’nara bal canar.
8. Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
8 Veh gaigotalu chaaj, ori bal kih; buruk bal morut’yc; tenn vhetin bal shib spirba; cuyete be oyayc bal kyr’am.
9. The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.
9 Al’verde gaigotalu jate’amman be suvarir, hayc, dinu’yc, mirshko, bal kov’briik.
10. By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.
10 Cuyir goy bal kov’briik cuyir suvarir joruu be akaan’ade bic staabi paril shaadla be kedin o’r alom, tayli goyust cuyir oyu’galan ret olaro akaan’ade bal ke’gyce akaan waadas’primmur.
11. These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.
11 Ibice rayshe’a kovid enteyor cuyir buyaci anay alor: kaysh tion’ad kar’taylir bic liser cuyir parjir; kaysh tion’ad nakiar’mir trattok’or.
12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:
12 Jor’bic, gar mirganla, tion’tuur kebbu j’ahailir akaan bana, bic cuyir gotal ruusaar be ja’haili, ibic goy:
13. (1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law?
13 (1) Megin be t’ad alore haili ti Ijaat an’gyce?
(2) Which of the two generals has most ability?
(2) Megin be t’ad verd’alore jatnese be jatnese?
(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth?
(3) tion’ad tayli riye teh tra bal veh?
(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?
(4) Bat megin eso kov’briik or’ne ruus’sa ru’vaabi?
(5) Which army is stronger?
(5) Megin akaan’ade kotyc?
(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained?
(6) Bat megin eso alore bal verde or’ne laamishya ru’baj’hibir?
(7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?
(7) O’r megin akaan’ade ogir or’ne arasuumir bintar o’r ber bal gratii?
14. By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat.
14 de goy be Ibice e’tad mirgaanla ni liser ven’dajunar parjai ra rohak.
15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:--let such a one be dismissed!
15 Verd’alor ibic sushir net miite bal narir bat, shukalari vercopa solus cuyir tayli alom! Verd’alor ibac sushir naasad net miite me narir bat, aarayir rohak: vercopa solus cuyir ba’slanar!
16. While heading the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules.
16 Vaal sushir orilin ner miite joruur gar be an pirimmuy bana jaon bal suum nu’amyc an’gyce.
17. According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one's plans.
17 Bid bana riye, solus enteyor am solus dajune.
18. All warfare is based on deception.
18 An akaan ruusaar bat hodar.
19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
19 Jor’bic tion’tuur liser ram’or, mhi enteyor jenarar laandor; tion’tuur pirimmur cuun trat’ade, mhi enteyor jenarar arasuum’la; tion’tuur mhi pirebu, mhi enteyor gotal’ur aru’e urmankalar mhi chaaj’yc be’chaaj; tion’tuur chaaj’yc be’chaaj mhi enteyor gotal’ur kaysh urmankalar mhi pirebu.
20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
20 Taylir dayn jekai yacur aru’e. Jehaatir dar’ke’gyce bal shuk’orok kaysh.
21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.
21 Meh kaysh morut’yc an taap, cuyir tsikala par kaysh. Meh kaysh o’r jatnese kotyc eyaytir kaysh.
22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
22 Meh gar aru’e be a’den aman, kebbur takisit kaysh. Jehaatir cuyir laandur, ibac kaysh ret drashaar g’yail’kayst.
23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.
23 Meh kaysh honor kaysh udes dinuir kaysh nayc udes meh kaysh trat’ade solus, dar’tome.
24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
24 Ram’or kaysh vaii kaysh ru’tsikadad olaror vaii gar naasade ven’dajunar.
25. These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
25 Ibice akaan an’gyce alori parjai, enteyor naasad cuyir din’kartay vaar.
26. Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.
26 Jii verd’alor tion’ad parjir akaan gotal’ur ori’sol mirdir o’r kaysh yaim ru akaan akaanir. Verd’alor tion’ad trattok’or akaan gotal’ur al kisol mirdir sol’yc. Bid vaabir ori’sol mirdir alorir parjir bal kisol mirdir ruhakar tion’solet nayc mirdir an! De kar’tayl ibic taap ibac ni liser ven’dajunar tion’ad ven parjir ra trattok’or.