Interview with Yanitzia Canetti

Interview with Yanitzia Canetti

Spanish translator of the Dr Seuss books, and more recently, the award winning storybook-music CD «A Duck in New York City», entitled «Un pato en Nueva York»

Yanitzia Canetti, tell us a bit about yourself, your interests.

I am a mother of two boys, a wife to a great man, an author of too many books and a translator of many, many more. I try to combine, not always successfully, all these facets of my life. For my "official business", I develop educational materials for teachers and students. At home, I like to spend my time (what little is left) sharing dreams, plans and games with my children, my playful gods: Ares and Eros. My interests? Books, then books and last but not least, books. In that order. I do also love to travel and get to know as many corners of this planet I inhabit.

You translated to Spanish the award-winning storybook-music CD «A Duck in New York City» by Connie Kaldor. What do you like about the story of the little duck?  What are your favorite songs?

I like everything about it! It's a very sweet and simple story. It is essentially human: everything is possible, everything that we wish for passionately and everything we fight for with conviction, we can achieve. Perseverance is key. We can see that clearly in the little duck in the story.
 
I love aaaall of the songs. I know them by heart and mind in English and Spanish. That's because I have been singing them so much with my two boys and my husband. Way off key, but very happy. Every song is different, but all of them are charming and very tender. I like them because they deal with themes that are both fun and relevant, and they aim to answer the important questions that children often have.

Did you find translating the songs more difficult?  What were the challenges? Were you in contact with the author-songwriter Connie Kaldor?  The singer Ines Canepa?  How did that work?

Yeah, it was quite a challenge to have Spanish lyrics "flowing" within the English melody. They are playful songs, filled with motion, movement, color and substance. They are well thought out. I had to sing them (again, off key) a thousand times to make sure the lyrics would match completely with the existing music. I then, had to make sure that none of the playfulness and charm of the original, would be lost in translation. The aim was for both songs to be adorable in each language.

No, I have not had the pleasure of meeting the author in person, but I think I have an image of her in my mind when I listen to her fabulous creations. The singer for the Spanish version is just great, a sweet and very warm voice, filled with such delicate hues. I cannot imagine a greater interpreter. She was successful in coloring the melodies with a certain Hispanic "spark". We have spoken from time to time and that's just who she is: as warm and sweet and tender as her voice.
 
How does this project compare with translating Dr. Seuss?

The main difference lies in form, as Dr Seuss is a master wordsmith. Having a vocabulary of zany and deliciously creative words and able to dance and play with language. This book had more challenges in content than it did in form. Without a doubt, though, they go hand in hand. On the other hand, when I translated Dr Seuss' books, I wasn't concentrated on songs, but rather with the melodies of the written word.

Do you think "Un pato en Nueva York" will be well-received by Spanish-speaking families in the United States?  

I am sure they will love it. There isn't a clearer and more relevant message for the Hispanic community than "yes, you can". This little duck seems to embody and represent just that idea. Tenacity, a strong will and inner strength. Take all of this and add to it the essence of of Hispanic culture, which is of course: music. Music and festivities, song and dance are an integral part of our culture.  A book with all these elements can only bring happiness and hope.
 

Quiero tomates (author Connie Kaldor, singer Ines Canepa, translator Yanitzia Canetti)