Translation in Society - Volume 3, Issue 1, 2024

Abstract

Thanks to the inclusion of sociological perspectives in the development of translator studies, the roles played by literary translators in the movement of texts between languages and cultures, and their positions within the fields of power that govern these processes, have become increasingly popular objects of study. However, despite the focus of sociological and translator studies on the agency and habitus of translators in literary translation processes, little has been done to connect this work to the ever-changing and proliferating digital contexts in which literary translation now takes place. This introductory article therefore seeks to position existing perspectives on literary translatorship within contemporary digital contexts whilst highlighting the increasing role of digital technology within literary translation processes, thereby emphasising the need to include digital technologies within all forms of research on contemporary literary translatorship going forwards.

Abstract

This article presents a process-oriented, self-reflective study of my work translating a documentary play about anti-government protests in Belarus in 2020. It provides insights into the overlapping roles of translator, social activist and cultural mediator, and reflects on opportunities for collaboration in the digital sphere. Through an analysis of my own notes, interim versions of the translation, editorial revisions, correspondence and conversations with other participants, this article contributes to a deeper understanding of the various roles, stages and relationships found throughout the translation process, as well as the translator’s role in interacting with other stakeholders to express a unanimous protest against violence and oppression made possible by cooperation across borders in the digital sphere.

Abstract

This article investigates how translator and content creator Francesca Crescentini (@tegamini) uses social media to make herself and her translatorship visible in a digital context. Boasting an Instagram following of over 210,000 users, Crescentini is understood here as a unique example of an ‘instafamous’ translator and macro-influencer, which gives her and her translatorship an unprecedented level of public exposure – particularly in the Italian context in which she works, where translator visibility is typically low. The analysis of Crescentini’s case presents new insights into how literary translators can leverage their online and social media presence to enhance both their own visibility and that of literary translation more broadly.

Abstract

This study explores collaboration in literary translation, suggesting a wider understanding of the translation process to also examine collaboration in various stages such as text selection, attracting publishers, self-publishing or promoting translations. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted for two research projects, the article outlines five literary translator collectives that have emerged outside of professional associations and that reflect changes in the publishing field. It discusses their origins, activities and modes of collaboration. The discussion sheds light on the distinct goals of these collectives, highlighting the diversity between market-oriented and socially driven approaches, their use of digital tools and the impact of the collaboration in the translation process and publishing sphere. The article underscores the significance of further research on literary translator collectives. It serves as a foundational exploration, pointing towards future research avenues into innovative modes of collaboration among literary translators and their influence on the global publishing landscape.

Abstract

This article reports on a study of literary translators’ self-imaging strategies and their attitudes towards technology in the context of the increasing technologisation of the profession. Literary translators’ self-image emerges as the sum of personal as well as professional characteristics, which is in contrast with the way they believe outsiders perceive them. Participants’ narratives highlight the feeling of being misunderstood by those outside the profession, and inhabiting an in-between space, having to reconcile both contradictions inherent to literary translation and those engendered by differing views of the profession and the role technology plays in it. Results open up a new path for the study of literary translators’ self-imaging strategies by centring their voices as a means to better understand if and how technology can (1) empower translators of creative texts and (2) reduce the gap between their view of the profession and other stakeholders.

Abstract

This article explores how literary prizing shapes translation flows by comparing bibliographic data on the translations of prize-winning books. It focuses on two prizes in particular, the Booker Prize and the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL), both of which generate significant numbers of translations but for very different reasons. The article develops the idea of ‘prizing logics’ to help explain these differences, singling out factors that appear to play a role: (1) the prize’s translation policy (especially important for the EUPL) and (2) the prize’s prestige and focus on commercial success (particularly relevant for the Booker). It shows that translations of EUPL winners are largely a result of state support, which is linked to the prize’s aim of spreading European diversity and reinforcing unity through literature, while the Booker is more focused on literary quality and stimulating commercial success, thereby leading to many translations of its winners.

This article reviews Intersemiotic Perspectives on Emotions: Translating Across Signs, Bodies and Values