[CFP] Translation & Minority 2: Freedom and Difference
Translation and Minority
University of Ottawa, School of Translation and Interpretation
November 11-12, 2016
Call for papers
Keynote speakers (confirmed):
Michael Cronin (Dublin City University, Ireland)
Catherine Leclerc (McGill University, Canada)
Nicole Nolette (Harvard University, USA)
Conference Theme
The conference draws on University of Ottawa’s roots in the culture of the Franco-Ontarian community, on its bilingualism, as well as on the diversity of its international student body, by exploring the concept of “minority” in its many facets through the lens of translation studies. It also marks the 45th anniversary of the founding of the School of Translation and Interpretation.
In a globalized world, linguistic minorities are apparently set for extinction, with linguistic diversity plummeting at an unprecedented rate. In this respect, translation becomes a tool for their survival and inclusion, making it “crucial to understand the operation of the translation process itself as the continued existence of the language and the self-perception and self-confidence of its speakers are intimately bound up with translation effects.” (Cronin 1995) In the same globalized world, minor cultures are oftentimes judged in terms of economic influence, facing an unjust comparative bias. In this case, translation restores the balance, since small cultures are disproportionately important in terms of translation productivity; their contribution is much more relevant to translation studies than the limited contribution of ‘major’ nations, which do not welcome translations in their cultures to the same extent. For example, even though Canada has a significant French-speaking population and a long translating tradition, its status as a minor Francophone culture and the current enjeux on the globalized publishing market confine excellent translations produced in Quebec to the local market. They do not go to France. In the same globalized world, ‘minority’ is a central concept which implies resistance to the mainstream, to what is considered ‘normal’ or part of a dominant discourse. In this respect, translation makes the voices of minorities heard and attenuates the cultural sway they experience.
The conference themes will revolve around, but will not be limited to, the following issues:
- Minority languages and translation
- Major vs. minor cultures in translation
- The politics of translating for ethnic minorities
- Translation from/into indigenous languages
- Audio-visual translation for the impaired
- Literary translation and sexual minorities
- Translation for migrants, refugees and the exiled
- Translation as ethical practice
- Translator training in minority-language contexts
- The influence of technologies on the diversity of language(s): preservation, or endangerment? development,
- Minority research topics in Translation Studies
Submission Guidelines
Scholars are invited to submit a 300-word abstract in Word format (Times New Roman, 12 pt, single spaced), which will be included in the conference program. Please make sure to include the following information (in this order): the title of your presentation, your name, affiliation, e-mail address, abstract, 6 key-words, selected bibliography, and short bio.
Each presentation will be allotted 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute question period. The working languages of the conference are French and English.
Please send the documents above to the organizers, Luise von Flotow and Raluca Tanasescu, to the following address: rtana014@uOttawa.ca by May 30, 2016. We will notify participants of their acceptance on June 15.
For more info, questions and comments, please do not hesitate to contact Raluca Tanasescu at the e-mail address above.
We look forward to your submissions.
https://translationandminority.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/blog-post-title-3/