Documentary film released showing the work of Dr Cecilia Rossi's UEA GCRF QR funded project in Latin America

'Bridging Communities: The Role of Translators and Interpreters in the Process of Guaranteeing the Language Rights of Speakers of Indigenous Languages in Latin America.'

Dr Cecilia Rossi's translations of Alejandra Pizarnik's poetry are now available to pre-order from Ugly Duckling Presse

The Last Innocence and The Lost Adventures are Alejandra Pizarnik’s second and third collections of poetry. Published in Buenos Aires shortly after The Most Foreign Country—which she would later disavow—these early poems blend the real and the imaginary, demonstrating the inner torment, deep solitude, and acute vulnerability that would plague Pizarnik throughout her short life. This edition includes new English-language translations of both books by Dr Cecilia Rossi, along with an introduction by poet, translator, and Pizarnik scholar Ana Becciu.

Pre-order a copy now!

BCLT's Dr Cecilia Rossi launches new research project to help in the process of recovery and dissemination of indigenous languages in Latin America 

'Bridging Communities: The Role of Translators and Interpreters in the Process of Guaranteeing the Language Rights of Speakers of Indigenous Languages in Latin America.'
Rapid Response Funds — UEA GCRF QR Funding (Global Challenges Research Fund - Quality Review)

Translators and interpreters play a key role in the process of recovery and dissemination of indigenous languages throughout Latin America. Their work guarantees access to information and rights for indigenous communities, as well as the dissemination of their languages and cultures. However, the experience and training of translators and interpreters across the region varies greatly and has not been properly accounted for. This project aims to strengthen the bonds between professionals and researchers from different parts of the globe, in line with the aims of the International Year of Indigenous Languages, i.e. to promote the conservation and reinvigoration of said languages as well as the understanding of the importance of transmitting their “histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems and literature” (UN, A/RES/71/178).  In the first instance the project aims to create the space for translators and interpreters from indigenous languages to come together to discuss questions and concerns regarding their role and share best practice. This meeting is scheduled to take place in Bogotá, Colombia between 26-30 November 2019. Secondly, the project  seeks to support the work carried out by AATI (Argentine Association of Translators and Interpreters) through the Committee for Translation from Indigenous Languages, by facilitating cooperation between indigenous communities and literary translators (Spanish/ English). Practice research into this collaborative translation process will seek to establish a model for the recovery and transmission of the culture and literature of said communities through translation. 
 

Publication of 'Untranslatability: Interdisciplinary Perspectives'

We are pleased to announce the publication of 'Untranslatability: Interdisciplinary Perspectives'

Edited by BCLT's Prof Duncan Large, Motoko Akashi, Wanda Józwikowska and Emily Rose.

This volume is the first of its kind to explore the notion of untranslatability from a wide variety of interdisciplinary perspectives and its implications within the broader context of translation studies. Featuring contributions from both leading authorities and emerging scholars in the field, the book looks to go beyond traditional comparisons of target texts and their sources to more rigorously investigate the myriad ways in which the term untranslatability is both conceptualized and applied.

The first half of the volume focuses on untranslatability as a theoretical or philosophical construct, both to ground and extend the term’s conceptual remit, while the second half is composed of case studies in which the term is applied and contextualized in a diverse set of literary text types and genres, including poetry, philosophical works, song lyrics, memoir, and scripture. A final chapter examines untranslatability in the real world and the challenges it brings in practical contexts. Extending the conversation in this burgeoning contemporary debate, this volume is key reading for graduate students and researchers in translation studies, comparative literature, gender studies, and philosophy of language.

Find out more and purchase a copy.

BCLT Research Events Series Launched

The BCLT has launched a new series of research events at UEA, Norwich. Download the Autumn Series poster. The Autumn series includes research seminars by Richard Mansell and Sarah Maitland, as well Prof Duncan Large's inaugural lecture in December 2017, 'Could Google Translate Shakespeare?'.

AHRC Open World Research Initiative (OWRI)

BCLT and UEA are satellite partners in the AHRC Open World Research Initiative (OWRI) research project "Cross-Language Dynamics: Reshaping Community" led by the University of Manchester.

The subproject led by Cecilia Rossi comes under the "Translingual Strand" of the project led by Professor Catherine Davies, director of the Institute of Modern Languages Research and will focus on the translation of literature exploring how communities affected by past conflicts incorporate their experience into cultural memory, and how that memory can be sustained and circulated across language borders. The first round of funding for the project will allow BCLT to run two literary translation workshops at the BCLT Summer School in July 2017.