Detours and Destination: Liham ni Pinay Mula sa Hongkong in Translation

By comparing the source text (ST) and the translated text (TT), this paper revealed the strategies used and the predispositions in translating the Filipino poem “Liham ni Pinay mula sa Hongkong” in English. The focus was particularly set on the nuances of the poem where discourse creation, borrowing, literal translation, variation, and amplification were observed. These translation strategies caused the TT to diverge from the literary style of the ST but preserved the fundamental content of the text. The findings suggest that in producing the TT, priority was given to the meaning rather than the structure for its message to reach its target audience. Thus, although “Liham ni Pinay mula sa Hongkong” encountered some linguistic detours, its message successfully arrived at its destination.