"O nap s-ap neid mo an ke:k s'alig tonlig ta:gio?

You didn't recognize the first line of the national anthem, translated into O'odham, the language of the Tohono tribe? Don't feel bad: Two-thirds of Americans don't know all the words in English. Of the one-third who claim they do, only 39 percent, according to a Harris poll, can correctly sing the phrase that follows "whose broad stripes and bright stars" (answer: "through the perilous fight"). Written to a British tune that spans multiple octaves, Francis Scott Key's national anthem has always presented a vocal as well as a verbal challenge. Nevertheless, it has inspired patriotic immigrants and native Americans to produce Finnish, German and Yiddish ("O'zog kenstu senh...") translations as well as O'odham.

As it happens, there are already several Spanish versions, including one written in 1919 and several published on the State Department's Web site [Spanish Version].

Are Americans really so insecure that they can't bear to hear their anthem sung in Spanish? We suggest that readers take a moment to listen to "Nuestro Himno" -- a respectful, recognizable, stirring version of a familiar song -- before making up their minds."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Nuestro Himno (The Washington Post 5/4)
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