Oath of Office Sound Translation

Translator’s Note
Sound translation, also known as homophonic translation, refers to the practice of recombining the phonetic elements of an existing text to form new words and new meanings. This practice of “intra-language” translation, in contrast to that of conventional “inter-language” translation, maintains that meaning can be transmutable and versatile. To further experience the process of sound translation, it can be useful to read aloud the original and translated text side-by-side.

Oath of Office of the President of the United States

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

I
I do so lonely wail (for a turn)
That eyes well
Fade fully
Hexecute Theophus
Pray
Servants of You Mighty Snakes
Vandals to bleed us
Of my ability
Pleasure
Prozac and descend
The convulusion
Froth,
You Mighty Snakes.


II
I’d ooze all enmity
Swear (our farm)
Zip tie
Will/fate
Fouly exit gut
Thaw face
Confess Eden—tough
The All-Nighted Spades
Anvil
Therapissed-off my ability
Pressure
Protest
Undeafen death cans tattoo shun
Of the All-Nighted Spades.


III
Adieu, salaam,
Nearly snare (off a rim)
Then I wilt
Ain’t filthy
Execute cough
Fizz
Off price
I’d enter
Your Netted Status
Canned wilderness
Tomb, lamb
Bullet me
Pre-starve
Pretend and deflect
The Klanstitution
Of Your Netted Status.


IV
Il Duce!
Lollies!
Where? (orifice)
That I wall faith
Fool
Leaks acute
Thief
ICE
Press indent
A fee
Ignited State
Sun dwell
Tooth bust
Oh Mab, ill lady!
Press nerve
Rot pact
Ayn dead-end
The cost
A shoeshine
Of the Ignited State.


V
I doze soil mainly
Sway air (terra firm)
That I will fatally accept you
The off kiss
Off precedent
Softly
One Eye Dead Strays
All wind
To the best of my ol’ balladry
Pass turn
Prod it
And death
And the coin
Still two
Sum of the One Eye Dead Strays.