From: gds@casper.cs.uct.ac.za (Riel Smit)
Subject: Re: Exclusivity of "Die Stem"
Reply-To: gds@cs.uct.ac.za
Organization: Computer Science Department, University of Cape Town
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 06:01:26 GMT

mark@uctvax.uct.ac.za writes:
>gds@casper.cs.uct.ac.za (Riel Smit) writes:
>> The only "exclusive" part in Die Stem is in verse 1:
>> 
>>>     From our plains where creaking wagons cut their trails
>>>          into the earth - 
>> 
>> but one could argue that not only whites (or afrikaners) used creaking
>> wagons in the past (or even still today).

>Since you didn't pick it up - this is a reference to the Great Trek.

Didn't pick it up?  After being taught the Great Trek n times, where n is
n-1 times too many) at school?  You've got to be kidding! Of course it can
be seen as a reference to the Great Trek, but it can also be seen as a
reference to a way of transportation that just about everyone in the
history of this country used at some point in time.  (That's why I said,
"if you disregard the baggage that comes with it".)

>> The Afrikaans version is more "exclusive", but only in two places: the
>> one mentioned above and then the last line of the second verse
>> 
>>>     Waar en trou as Afrikaners - kinders van Suid-Afrika.
>>       Tried and true as Afrikaners - children of South Africa
>
>Is it now "not 'exclusive' at all" or is it "more 'exclusive', but only 
>in two places"?  It really can't be both you know!
> 
OK, if you want to play your word games, so my "not exclusive at all" should
have been "not all that exclusive"  (and I so carefully selected my words
in the first place :-).  The simple point I was trying to make 
is that, if one only look at the words without regarding the emotions and
history that comes with Die Stem, then Die Stem in its official English
translation is not as exclusive white Afrikaner as people make it out to
be.  Now whether that is a useful observation or not, one could argue
about, but I won't.

>> [Which gives me an idea - I'll translate the Afrikaans version more directly
>> into English and post it tomorrow, unless I get a flood of NO! PLEASE
>> DON'Ts :-)]

>If it suits you, I don't mind - you may even "uncover" more exclusivity:-)

It doesn't "suit me" in any particular way, except to provide "raw"
information to someone who might be interested.  As for more exclusivity
(beyond the ones I've already mentioned), I'll leave that to whoever reads
this (if anyone :-) to decide.

So here it is, the authorised and the unauthorised translations of Die
Stem.  I said it would be litteral, so I'll ignore complaints about weird 
English!

>> official Afrikaans version
>  official English version
.  my direct translation of the Afrikaans (here and there the word order
   was changed to render better English)

>> Uit die blou van onse hemel, uit die diepte van ons see. 
>  Ringing out from our blue heavens, from our deep seas breaking round; 
.  Out of the blue of our heaven, out of the depth of our sea
>> Oor ons ewige gebergtes waar die kranse antwoord gee, 
>  Over everlasting mountains where the echoing crags resound; 
.  Over our everlasting mountains where the cliffs give answer
>> Deur ons ver-verlate vlaktes met die kreun van ossewa -
>  From our plains where creaking wagons cut their trails into the earth - 
.  Through our far and lonely plains with the groan of ox-wagon
>> Ruis die stem van ons geliefde, van ons land Suid-Afrika 
>  Calls the spirit of our Country, of the land that gave us birth. 
.  Rustle/murmur the voice of our beloved, of our land South Africa
>> Ons sal antwoord op jou roepstem, ons sal offer wat jy vra: 
>  At thy call we shall not falter, firm and steadfast we shall stand. 
.  We shall answer on your call, we shall sacrifice what you ask:
>> Ons sal lewe, ons sal sterwe - ons vir jou, Suid-Afrika.
>  At thy will to live or perish, O South Africa, dear land
.  We shall live, we shall die - we for you, South Africa.

>> In die merg van ons gebeente, in ons hart en siel en gees, 
>  In our body and our spirit, in our inmost heart held fast; 
.  In the marrow of our bones, in our hart and soul and spirit,
>> In ons roem op ons verlede, in ons hoop op wat sal wees, 
>  In the promise of our future and the glory of our past; 
.  In our pride on our past, in our hope on what shall be,
>> In ons wil en werk en wandel, van ons wieg tot aan ons graf - 
>  In our will, our work, our striving, from the cradle to the grave - 
.  In our will and work and conduct, from our cradle to our grave -
>> Deel geen ander land ons liefde, trek geen ander trou ons af. 
>  There's no land that shares our loving, and no bond that can enslave. 
.  Shares no other land our love, distracts no other loyalty us.
>> Vaderland! ons sal die adel van jou naam met ere dra: 
>  Thou hast borne us and we know thee.  May our deeds to all proclaim 
.  Fatherland! we shall carry the nobleness of your name with honour:
>> Waar en trou as Afrikaners - kinders van Suid-Afrika.
>  Our enduring love and service to thy honour and thy name.
.  True and faithful as Afrikaners - children of South Africa.

>> In die songloed van ons somer, in ons winternag se kou, 
>  In the golden warmth of summer, in the chill of winter's air, 
.  In the sun-glow of our summer, in our winter night's cold,
>> In die lente van ons liefde, in die lanfer van ons rou. 
>  In the surging life of springtime, in the autumn of despair; 
.  In the spring of our love, in the crape of our mourning.
>> By die klink van huw'liks-klokkies, by die kluitklap op die kis - 
>  When the wedding bells are chiming, or when those we love depart, 
.  At the sound of wedding bells, at the clod-clap on the coffin
>> Streel jou stem ons nooit verniet nie, weet jy waar jou kinders is. 
>  Thou dost know us for thy children and dost take us to thy heart. 
.  Caresses your voice us never in vain, know you where your children are
>> Op jou roep s^e ons nooit nee nie, s^e ons altyd, altyd ja: 
>  Loudly peals the answering chorus; We are thine, and we shall stand, 
.  On your call we say never no, we say always, always yes:
>> Om te lewe, om te sterwe - ja ons kom, Suid-Afrika.
>  Be it life or death, to answer thy call, beloved land.
.  To live, to die - yes we come, South Africa.

>> Op U Almag vas vertrouend, het ons vadere gebou: 
>  In thy power Almighty, trusting, did our fathers build of old; 
.  On Your Omnipotence firmly trusting, did our fathers build:
>> Skenk ook ons die krag, o Here! om te handhaaf en te hou - 
>  Strengthen then, O Lord, their children to defend, to love, to hold - 
.  Give also us the strength, O Lord! to vindicate and to hold -
>> Dat die erwe van ons vaad're vir ons kinders erwe bly: 
>  That the heritage they gave us for our children yet may be: 
.  That the heritage of our fathers for our children a heritage will remain
>> Knegte van die Allerhoogste, teen die hele wereld vry. 
>  Bondsmen only to the Highest and before the whole world free. 
.  Servants of the Allmighty, before the whole world free.
>> Soos ons vadere vertrou het, leer ook ons vertrou o Heer - 
>  As our fathers trusted humbly, teach us, Lord, to trust Thee still: 
.  As our fathers trusted, teach also us to trust O Lord -
>> Met ons land en met ons nasie sal dit wel wees, God regeer. 
>  Guard our land and guide our people in Thy way to do Thy will.
.  With our land and with our nation it will be well, God reigns.
-- 
Riel Smit,  Computer Science                              gds@cs.uct.ac.za
University of Cape Town                      gds%cs.uct.ac.za@rain.psg.com
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american