The Wordshed - Merlinda Bobis, Filipino poetry that punches

Summary

The video discusses *tigsik*, a traditional Filipino oral poetry form involving verbal jousts between poets, often in the Bicol region. Poets challenge each other extemporaneously in quatrains, aiming to outdo one another in style and creativity rather than debating ideas. The speaker shares two examples of *tigsik* poetry in Bicol, highlighting the challenge of translating such poems into English, where the rhythm and cultural nuances are often lost. The speaker reflects on how the Bicol language allows for smoother expressions, making direct translation difficult yet meaningful in spirit.

Takeaways

• 😀 'Tig Seekin' is a traditional Philippine oral poetry, typically performed as a verbal joust between two or more poets.
• 😀 The poetry is extemporaneous, with each poet trying to outdo the previous one in terms of style, flair, and creativity.
• 😀 Each poem is structured in quatrains—four-line verses—that are created on the spot during the performance.
• 😀 The objective of the poetry duel is not to argue a point, but to demonstrate poetic skill and imagination.
• 😀 The poetry often incorporates rich metaphors and ideas, resulting in a dynamic, unpredictable performance.
• 😀 The speaker provides an example of 'Tig Seekin' poetry in the Bicol dialect, which adds cultural depth to the practice.
• 😀 Translating poetry between languages is challenging, as the meaning, rhythm, and wordplay often do not transfer seamlessly.
• 😀 The speaker offers a translation of their Bicol poem into English, acknowledging that it doesn’t capture the full spirit of the original.
• 😀 The nature of Bicol dialect allows for smoother and more natural rhyming patterns, which are hard to replicate in English.
• 😀 The process of translation in poetry is about approximating the meaning and spirit of the original rather than achieving a perfect translation.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on the limitations of translation, emphasizing that some poetic qualities are lost when shifting from Bicol to English.

Q & A

What is the *Tig-sekin* tradition in the Philippines?

The *Tig-sekin* is a traditional Filipino oral poetry form that involves a verbal joust between two or more contenders. In this extemporaneous game, the poets compete to outdo each other in poetic style, flair, and metaphors, improvising quatrains without necessarily arguing a specific point.

How is the *Tig-sekin* performed?

The *Tig-sekin* is performed as a live verbal duel where poets recite quatrains extemporaneously. One poet would recite a four-line poem, and the next poet would respond with their own quatrain, aiming to outdo the previous poet in terms of style, metaphors, and flair.

What is the structure of the poems in the *Tig-sekin* tradition?

The poems in *Tig-sekin* are structured as quatrains, meaning each poem consists of four lines. These poems are typically improvised and focus on creative expression and one-upmanship, rather than presenting a logical argument or narrative.

What role do metaphors play in the *Tig-sekin*?

Metaphors are central to the *Tig-sekin* tradition. Poets use metaphors to create vivid imagery and express complex ideas or emotions, often in a highly stylized and creative manner. The use of metaphors helps the poets elevate their performance and outdo their opponents.

Why is it difficult to translate the *Tig-sekin* into English?

Translating *Tig-sekin* into English is challenging because the nuances of the Bicol dialect and the rhythm of the original poetry are often lost in translation. The flow, rhyme scheme, and play on words in the original language do not always have direct equivalents in English, which results in a translation that may feel awkward or incomplete.

What is the significance of the dialect in *Tig-sekin*?

The dialect plays an important role in *Tig-sekin* as it shapes the rhythm, structure, and fluency of the poetry. In the Bicol dialect, for example, lines may flow more smoothly, and the rhyming scheme can be more natural, making the performance more impactful compared to a translation in English.

How does the translation of *Tig-sekin* into English affect its meaning?

Translating *Tig-sekin* into English can dilute the meaning and spirit of the original poem. While the translation may capture the general idea, it often loses the subtlety, rhythm, and playfulness of the original, making the translation feel less dynamic and less evocative.

What was the first example of *Tig-sekin* provided in the transcript?

The first example provided in the transcript is a Bicol verse that describes a flower: 'I think sick this flower very red on the stem complete in itself at peace with the world.' This quatrain is intended to showcase the poetic style of the *Tig-sekin* tradition.

How did the second poet respond in the *Tig-sekin* example?

The second poet responded with a quatrain describing a butterfly: 'I think sick this butterfly, his blue wings alight on the flower I the red, found someone to talk to.' This response not only introduces a new image but also builds on the first poet's imagery, demonstrating the back-and-forth nature of the *Tig-sekin* competition.

What does the speaker mean by saying that the translation of the Bicol verse into English is 'poor'?

The speaker describes the translation of the Bicol verse into English as 'poor' because it doesn't fully capture the essence of the original poem. The rhythm, metaphors, and wordplay of the Bicol dialect do not translate easily into English, making the translated version feel clunky or less impactful.