
What it really takes to translate Shakespeare, with Daniel Hahn
From Grammar Girl by QuickAndDirtyTips.com
June 11, 2026 · 35 min · Episode 1193
About this episode
The episode features an interview with translator Daniel Hahn discussing the complexities of translating Shakespeare.
1193. Today, we talk to award-winning translator Daniel Hahn, author of "If This Be Magic," about what it really takes to translate Shakespeare, starting with the philosophical paradox at the heart of all translation: changing every single word while changing nothing at all. We look at the special challenges Shakespeare poses, including preserving rhyme and meter in languages that work completely differently. Find Daniel's book "If This Be Magic" 🔗 Join the Grammar Girl Patreon. 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter . 🔗 Take our advertising survey . 🔗 Get the edited transcript here . 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah Sebastian Podcast Associate: Maram Elnagheeb | Theme music by Catherine Rannus…
People in this episode
Host: Mignon Fogarty
Guest: Daniel Hahn
Topics covered
- translation
- Shakespeare
- language
- literature
- philosophy
- poetry
Keywords
- translation
- Shakespeare
- Daniel Hahn
- literature
- poetry
- rhyme
- meter
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: QuickAndDirtyTips.com, Grammar Girl
Books & works: If This Be Magic
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