What does "Taa" mean?

[Fjord_Brewer]

I have a Finnish friend, and her and her sister can't think of anything "taa" means. The context is

A men's choral piece titled "Tumman Virran Taa". I know a rough translation of that is something about a dark / black water source, but I have a specific question.

Together what does it all mean?
And anyone care to explain "taa" or what it might be shortened for?

[AldenG]

I'd hear it as a contraction of takaa -- behind, or possibly beyond, depending on the context. Don't know if that makes sense in your context, but that's all it says to me.

So "Behind/Beyond A Dark Stream/Current".

[Fjord_Brewer]

I'd hear it as a contraction of takaa -- behind, or possibly beyond, depending on the context. Don't know if that makes sense in your context, but that's all it says to me.

So "Behind/Beyond A Dark Stream/Current".

Yeah I think the person who wrote it translates it to "Behind the Dark Stream", so I guess its just a contraction of 'takaa'? Is that a usual thing for people to make their own contractions?

[AldenG]

Is that a usual thing for people to make their own contractions?

No, not at all. But it's common in old folk songs. If this is a wholly made-up name, I'm sure it's an allusion to such phrases. But the title might also be a quote from an actual folk song. It has that sound.

[Fjord_Brewer]

Is that a usual thing for people to make their own contractions?

No, not at all. But it's common in old folk songs. If this is a wholly made-up name, I'm sure it's an allusion to such phrases. But the title might also be a quote from an actual folk song. It has that sound.

I'm thinking it is most likely taken from a song that was influenced by the Kalevala, the choral piece is by a folk-ish band.

I'll make a video on YouTube of the song. i'll post in a second so you can listen, and if you could translate the whole 50 seconds of the song, i'd love you forever.

[onkko]

Taa is short/poetic form of taakse (to behind)

[Rob A.]

Wiktionary suggests it's derived from taaksi....the translative singular of taka....the full form is taakse...and taa is a poetic or dialectal form....which I guess makes sense in this context....

Anyway that's the wiktionary view....

{Edit: Oops, sorry, onkko....I guess you got there first...]

[AldenG]

You get what you pay for, Ford

Actually I thought the right meaning but named the wrong form, as takaa would be from behind. Then again taa is just taa. One doesn't normally translate it into other Finnish or English. It just means what it means. That's not very helpful, I realize.

[Fjord_Brewer]

You get what you pay for, Ford

Actually I thought the right meaning but named the wrong form, as takaa would be from behind. Then again taa is just taa. One doesn't normally translate it into other Finnish or English. It just means what it means. That's not very helpful, I realize.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuoWrnfOys8

^^ I posted the choral piece, if anyone could listen to the 50 something seconds of it, and translate it, I would praise you <3

[onkko]

Here is finnish lyrics for rob if he wants to try, i suck on translating

Yllä harmaan korven korpit laulaa
Hurme tämän kansan roudan sulattaa
Katso kuinka hohkaa kansi taivaan
Kutsuu se meitä tumman virran taa
Heikot vaipuu kuohuun sysimustaan
Sankarit kun astuu joen rantaan
Halki iäisyyden laulu raikaa
Kutsuu se veljiä tumman virran taa

[Fjord_Brewer]

Here is finnish lyrics for rob if he wants to try, i suck on translating

Yllä harmaan korven korpit laulaa
Hurme tämän kansan roudan sulattaa
Katso kuinka hohkaa kansi taivaan
Kutsuu se meitä tumman virran taa
Heikot vaipuu kuohuun sysimustaan
Sankarit kun astuu joen rantaan
Halki iäisyyden laulu raikaa
Kutsuu se veljiä tumman virran taa

I LOVE YOU FOREVER!! <3

if anyone gives an english translation (its like homework) more points to you :O

[Rob A.]

Here is finnish lyrics for rob if he wants to try, i suck on translating

Yllä harmaan korven korpit laulaa
Hurme tämän kansan roudan sulattaa
Katso kuinka hohkaa kansi taivaan
Kutsuu se meitä tumman virran taa
Heikot vaipuu kuohuun sysimustaan
Sankarit kun astuu joen rantaan
Halki iäisyyden laulu raikaa
Kutsuu se veljiä tumman virran taa

I LOVE YOU FOREVER!! <3

if anyone gives an english translation (its like homework) more points to you :O

Well...I don't think I want you to "love"me... ...but I'll give you the first line....it was not too difficult....

"Above the grey, deep forest, the ravens sing"


....the rest I'll have to do later....but someone else can take over....I've got to go home now.....

[Fjord_Brewer]

Here is finnish lyrics for rob if he wants to try, i suck on translating

Yllä harmaan korven korpit laulaa
Hurme tämän kansan roudan sulattaa
Katso kuinka hohkaa kansi taivaan
Kutsuu se meitä tumman virran taa
Heikot vaipuu kuohuun sysimustaan
Sankarit kun astuu joen rantaan
Halki iäisyyden laulu raikaa
Kutsuu se veljiä tumman virran taa

I LOVE YOU FOREVER!! <3

if anyone gives an english translation (its like homework) more points to you :O

Nah I'll love you anyway , thanks for the start!

Well...I don't think I want you to "love"me... ...but I'll give you the first line....it was not too difficult....

"Above the grey, deep forest, the ravens sing"


....the rest I'll have to do later....but someone else can take over....I've got to go home now.....

[onkko]

Ravens sing over grey wilderness
Blood of this nation will melt groundfrost
Look how top of heaven "glows"
It calls us behind dark stream
Weak sink in pitch black "surge"
When heroes step in shore of river
Thru eternity sing "clang"
It calls brothers behind dark stream

There is crude translation. "Glows" is wrong i think because its more like hohtaa but i dont know english equivalent to hohkaa (emit cold/heat)
"surge" and "clang" i picked up in dictionary, dunno if those are right.

[skandagupta]

Here is finnish lyrics for rob if he wants to try, i suck on translating

Yllä harmaan korven korpit laulaa
Hurme tämän kansan roudan sulattaa
Katso kuinka hohkaa kansi taivaan
Kutsuu se meitä tumman virran taa
Heikot vaipuu kuohuun sysimustaan
Sankarit kun astuu joen rantaan
Halki iäisyyden laulu raikaa
Kutsuu se veljiä tumman virran taa

The corbies sing up above the grey wilderness
it`s gore that thaws this people in frore
behold how gleams the welkin
it beckons us over the swarthy stream
The weak fall into pitchblack vortex
when braves stride to riverbend
across the eternity the song rings
beckoning brethren across the swarthy stream

edit: usual typos