Songs are increasingly present in products derived from productions in both the audiovisual market and the performing arts. As such, the need for translating and adapting song lyrics into different languages has become more common. This course is designed for translation students and professionals who want to be well-prepared to tackle the unique challenges that come with song adaptation.

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The ability to adapt songs effectively is a valuable skill that extends beyond musical translation and can be applied to other types of assignments, such as literary or advertising translations.

In this course, we will explore the key aspects of producing high-quality adaptations. Through the analysis of real-world examples, we will focus on strategies that song adaptors use to ensure success. A good adaptation not only conveys the original song's message but also respects the essential elements like rhymes and rhythm. The goal is to make the audience feel as if the song was originally composed in the target language.

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Participants will have the opportunity to translate songs from English into one of the following target languages: German, French, Spanish, or Catalan. The course begins with an introduction to song adaptation strategies, followed by group work based on participants’ chosen target language.

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The course will be taught by an international team of experts from Germany, Finland, Spain and Argentina, bringing together some of the leading academics and professionals in the field.