[CFP] Tenth Annual International Translation Conference, Doha, Qatar, March 26th – 27th, 2019

Translation Beyond the Margins

Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII)
College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS)
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)

Doha, Qatar

March 26th – 27th, 2019

Call for Papers

Translation, by nature, deals with margins. Translators and interpreters still hold a marginal position in society, as they often work in the shadow, and go unseen, despite the fact that global economy and politics hinge on their work. Translation Studies (TS) holds a similar position in the Humanities and the Social Sciences. This has multifold consequences on professional recognition, leads to further marginalization of vulnerable minorities or invisible end-users, publics and audiences, and has an impact on the advancement of knowledge in and beyond translation.

As a discipline, Translation Studies challenges and transcends disciplinary frontiers, as it converges with and diverges from sister disciplines of the Humanities and Social Sciences, while mapping new territories in dialogue with other domains. Translation Studies not only crosses over in terms of the subject matters of the materials (verbal, auditory, visual, or otherwise) it works with, but also imports, appropriates and expands on knowledge and methods from other disciplines. In so doing, Translation Studies contributes to advancing new knowledge in interrelated domains of enquiry.

One of the remits of higher education, and of science in general, is to expand the borders of knowledge and that can only be achieved if researchers, teachers, students, professionals and all those involved in reflective practices look beyond the margins of what is presently known. Looking beyond the margins may mean to tackle topics that have never been addressed, or to address mainstream topics from a new angle. It may also mean taking the viewpoint of other disciplines or simply running the risk when applying innovative or crosscutting approaches to practices and/or research.

Translation Studies is known to challenge established thought, and to be looking beyond as a discipline that, like its own topic of interest, brings together disciplines, methods, research and practice.

Thematic areas include, but are not limited to, the following

  • New territories, new landscapes in Translation Studies and practices
  • Cross-overs in interpreting, audiovisual translation, transcreation, self-translation
  • Convergence and divergence between translation, adaptation and mediation
  • Innovation and transgression in researching translation and related areas
  • Interdisciplinarity, Transdisciplinarity and Multidisciplinarity in Translation Studies
  • TS contribution to advance knowledge in and beyond its own domain of enquiry (methodologies, epistemologies, theories)
  • Old languages, new territories, old continents, new challenges
  • Translation beyond the word
  • Beyond censorship and taboo
  • New readerships and audiences
  • Cultural, linguistic and social minorities
  • Translator training beyond the classroom
  • New professional profiles, challenges and recognition
  • Translation norms and transgressions
  • Mainstream topics in a different light
  • Technological innovations in research and practice
  • Collaborative translation, Crowdsourcing and Fan-based translation
  • Translation for active citizenship

Proposals should include the following elements:

  1. Applicant’s institutional affiliation and contact information, including email
  2. A short Bionote of no more than 100 words
  3. Abstract of at least 300 words which states:
    – An introductory statement that outlines the background and significance of the study
    – A short description of the basic methodology adopted
    – A clear indication of the major findings of the study
    – A concluding statement
    – Thematic area chosen from the list of suggested topics
    – Five  keywords

The deadline for proposals is October 25, 2018

Papers accepted will be allocated 30 minutes in the program, which includes no more than 20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for questions/discussion.

Accommodation and travel costs:

CHSS will sponsor speakers; this will include economy flight tickets, accommodation, and transportation to and from the conference only. CHSS will also apply for the speakers’ visas; however the approval is subject to the State’s regulations.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Conference Organizing Committee at transconf@hbku.edu.qa

Submission of Abstracts

The languages of the conference will be Arabic and English. Proposals should be submitted online through the below form:

https://tiiforms.wufoo.com/forms/sw3vsg1is9z8s/