Translation Studies scholars have shown a growing interest in the role affect and emotions play in the translation process. Research in this vein has explored links between affect and translation in various domains, including literature, business, governance, and translator/interpreter training (Kußmaul 1991, Jääskeläinen 1996, Ruokonen & Koskinen 2017, Shadman 2020). Various methodologies have been brought to bear, ranging from qualitative methods such as TAP (Jääskeläinen 1996), interviews (Risku & Meinx 2021), and narrative accounts (Ruokonen & Koskinen 2017). These tools have proven useful in identifying and investigating the parameters that affect translators’ and interpreters’ performance and how emotional intelligence informs the translation process (Shadman 2020, Hubscher-Davidson 2021, Rojo 2017). Despite the great interdisciplinary potential of interfacing insights from psychology and cognitive scienceswith Translation Studies, researchers have thus far primarily focused on emotions from a cognitive perspective only. One notable exception is Kaisa Koskinen’s Translation and Affect: Essays on Sticky Affects and Translational Affective (2020), which invites scholars to rethink the role of “affect” in translation by including cultural and sociological approaches that highlight the relevance of affect theory to Translation Studies. Building on Koskinen’s pioneering work, this volume seeks to advance our understanding of affect’s interplay in translational phenomena by contributing new methodological and conceptual insights and exploring new empirical domains.

One indication of the need for conceptual elaboration is the profusion of different definitions of affect. Koskinen understands affect as a “body-mind complex that directs a person towards a desired state of affairs through a process of change” (13). Under this framework, affect is “bodily grounded. We can only be affected by what our sensory systems register, and this is constrained by both our bodily capacities and our material location” (179). Translation can thus be viewed as an activity in which affect plays an important role. Following Koskinen’s approach, we are interested in exploring the links between the individual and the social by highlighting emotional and physiological aspects involved in translation. Our volume hopes to build on this conceptualisation of affect that privileges human experience in times when technological advances often take centre stage, without forgetting that translation technologies also affect the translator and other translation actors both cognitively and socially (Pym, 2011). For instance, the use of increasingly high-performance digital tools and machine translation transforms the translator’s tasks and raises new questions regarding dialogue (Pym, 2011), agency, creativity, or individual voices, all of which arguably fall into the realm of affect (Koskinen, 2020: 155). Taking this into consideration, the goal of this volume is twofold. Firstly, it pursues a “sociocultural theorization of the roles of affect in translatorial activities” (6). Secondly, it aims to connect affect to the subfield of translator studies, which covers “sociology, culture and cognition” (Chesterman 2009: 13), in order to articulate the need for research focused on the agents and actors involved in translation rather than solely on the translated text. Agent- and process-oriented research allows for an in-depth examination of the translator’s agency and the influence of culture and society on their choices. Similarly, widely discussed questions such as translator training, ethics, and the translator’s (in)visibility need revisiting in light of affect theory.

Since translation is a cultural rather than a solely linguistic act, and given that affect is embedded in culture and is context-dependent, the intersection of affect and translation is best studied not only from an interdisciplinary point of view, but also through an exploration of novel and combined methods that pertain to the realm of ethnographic, literary-artistic, philosophical, cultural studies. In line with the contributions of Goldfajn (2020) and Koskinen hailing from cultural studies, this volume seeks to highlight the centrality of affect and emotions in translation and to offer new avenues for exploring future directions in the discipline. We welcome diverse perspectives, methodologies, and case studies that explore the cultural and social nature of both affect and translation, such as – but not exclusive to – cognitive, gendered, embodied, postcolonial, psychological and historical approaches that address one or more of the following questions: 

– What is the role of affect on and between the different agents/actors in the translation field? 

– How does translation shape affect in specific contexts or in relation to certain social phenomena? This question could be linked to climate change narratives, heritage, politics, journalism, current events, science, literature, national/cultural identity, censorship, etc. 

– How are translators and interpreters affected by technology (e.g., CAT tools, translation memories, AI)? What could be the possible impacts on the future development of the profession? 

– To what extent do sociocultural and economic factors such as gender, education, linguistic policies, and cultural politics influence affect, particularly in translation situations? What can this teach us about translators and the translation process? 

– How can a more explicit focus on affect advance the state of the art in other areas of interest in TS, such as self-translation, retranslation, and untranslatability? 

Deadline for abstracts: 15 December 2023

For more information, click here.

Over the centuries, Slavic countries’ history and culture have been marked by countless attempts at revolution, rebellion, and transgression from the imposed norm, paired with a strong desire to adhere to forms of tradition, ideology, or even political regimes. Examples of such behaviour in the context of historical events are the various protests and riots that have spanned the last century in the Slavic area, beginning from the October Revolution in 1917, moving towards Color Revolutions in the early 2000s and the events surrounding Ukrainian Euromajdan in 2014 and Belarusian protest movements in 2020. As for artistic and literary environments, equally frequent have been attempts to deviate from the imposed norm to rework tradition or propose new aesthetic schemes, which have resulted, for instance, in numerous alternations between «archaists» and «innovators» (Yu. Tynyanov, 1929, Arkhaisty i novatory). At the same time, cultures belonging to the Slavic area have often engaged in dialogue with European tradition, which was perceived as more prestigious. Such dialogue with the close Western counterpart has been engaged either in the attempt to pursue integration with its consolidated aesthetic tradition or, at times, in the desire to differentiate themselves and assert their own specificity. 

Suggesting a theoretical frame, one can observe similarities between the Slavic area’s cultural interactions and the semiosphere model theorised by Jurij Lotman (Yu. Lotman, 1984, On the semiosphere). Slavic cultures would live, accordingly, in a dual «semiotic space»: an internal space and an external one, closer to European standards. As the semiosphere itself, these two spaces are heterogeneous and asymmetrical. Such asymmetry between the codified languages placed at the centre of the system, and the less structured ones placed at its periphery, makes possible a continuous flow of creation and destruction of ‘norms’, in which elements take on meaning as a result of previously developed and shared codes, subject to constant renewal.

The adherence to which norms has marked the development of Slavic cultures? Which phenomena have given rise to processes of deviation and change? How have these opposing tendencies contributed to the development of literary tradition, to the normalisation of language, to the imposition or subversion of social and political order?

The conference intends to discuss the various possible ways of approaching the topic. Proposals may explore - without being limited to - the following research areas related to  Slavic cultures: languages and linguistics; literature, art and cultural studies; cinema and theatre; language teaching; translatology and translation studies; historical, political and socio-cultural studies.

Deadline for abstracts: 20 November 2023

For more information, click here.

The Département d’études françaises in the Faculty of Arts and Science at Concordia University invites applications for a tenure-track position in Translation and Translation Studies from French to English at the rank of Assistant Professor. We are seeking candidates with expertise in digital studies, applied AI, or applied translation technologies in relation to translation (general, specialized, or literary), terminology, localization, audiovisual translation, post-editing or related practices. The successful candidate will be able to contribute to the pedagogical integration of technologies in both the translation programs and the language and literature programs offered by the Department. Duties include research, teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and service to the institution. 

Deadline for applications: 1 December 2023

For more information, click here.

The School of Arts, English and Languages (AEL) at Queen’s University Belfast, is currently seeking to appoint an exceptional candidate to the post of Lecturer (Education) in French Studies. You will teach at undergraduate level in the Subject Area of French and contribute to School administration /outreach /student engagement activity.

The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the following criteria:

• Hold or about to complete a PhD in an area of French Studies.
• Native or near native fluency in French (Native speakers of French should have near native fluency in English).
• Evidence of language teaching experience at tertiary level.
• Ability to design course materials and to plan and organise the delivery and assessment of taught courses in French Studies.
• Ability to contribute fully to the French Studies Curriculum at UG level.

Please note the above are not an exhaustive list.  For further information about the role including the essential and desirable criteria, please click on the Candidate Information link below.

This is a fixed term post for 6 months.  Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

Deadline for applications: 20 November 2023

For more information, click here.

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs.

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

The Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies works across a range of disciplines including education, childhood and youth, health and social care, youth work, social work, languages and applied linguistics, nursing, and sport and fitness; organised as three schools. We work proactively, taking an innovative approach to teaching and learning; develop collaborative and effective partnerships with employers and other institutions; and engage in cutting edge, action oriented and internationally recognised research.

The role

The postholder will contribute to the production and delivery of French Language and Culture modules at Undergraduate Level, and of Translation Studies at Postgraduate level. They will be research active and contribute to the management, administration, and coordination of part of the teaching programme.

Skills and experience

• A PhD in the area of French Studies, Translation Studies or other relevant discipline
• Higher Education knowledge and experience necessary to contribute to the development, production, and presentation of modules in French Language and Culture, and Translation Studies
• A strong record of research that is commensurate to the position.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English and French (level of proficiency equivalent to CEFR C2 (mastery)

Deadline for applications: 11 December 2023

For more information, click here.

To complement existing excellence in CTS in researching the integration of technologies in translation and interpreting, applications are invited for the position of Lecturer in Translation Studies with a specific focus on research in interpreting. The post holder will make a strong contribution to achieving the strategic goals of CTS’s expanding research programme. She/he will also contribute to PhD supervision and to postgraduate teaching on CTS’s interpreting-related programmes and will develop updates of our teaching portfolio to ensure it embraces emerging industry and research trends.

Deadline for applications: 20 November

For more information, click here.

We welcome proposals for conceptual papers as well as case studies and empirical research contributions that address the labour and work of translation and interpreting in both theory and practice. Please send your extended abstract (700-800 words, excluding references) to both editors Cornelia Zwischenberger (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Alexa Alfer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by 15 January 2023.

Further Information: https://transcultcom.univie.ac.at/news-and-events/news-detail/news/call-for-papers-special-issue-of-traget/

The conference Legal Translation & Interpreting on the move is the closing event of the 2022-2023 edition of the 1st-Level Master programme in Legal Translation offered by the Department of Legal, Language, Interpreting and Translation Studies of the University of Trieste.

The conference is also part of the events organised on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting (SSLMIT) as well as the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the University of Trieste.

The conference aims to contribute to the discussion on the key role of legal translators and interpreters in a wide variety of areas, providing a forum in which academics and practitioners can benefit from the exchange of ideas based on research projects as well as professional experiences.

With a view to exploring the new opportunities and threats related to the fast-paced technological advancement and the rapidly changing professional landscape, in terms of both job profiles and market developments, the conference intends to encourage reflection on the various themes listed below and will address issues including, but not limited to, the following topics:

- Law, language, translation & interpreting and Artificial Intelligence

- Legal/community/court interpreting

- Training the legal translators and interpreters of the future

- Legal translation & interpreting competence: research and practice

- Legal institutional translation & interpreting

- Emerging demands and professional profiles

- Law, literature and translation

- Law on the screen: legal translation & audiovisual translation

- Legal translation, clear writing and language simplification

- Legal translation and transcreation

- Legal translation and legal design

- Legal translation & interpreting and crisis/risk communication

- Legal translation & interpreting and migration

- Legal translation & interpreting and human rights

- Ideology in legal translation & interpreting research and practice

- Gender, law, translation & interpreting

Deadline for abstracts: 30 November 2023

For more information, click here.

Following the resounding success of the 1^st International Conference Translation and Cultural Sustainability, which took place in November 2018, the Department of Translation and Interpreting of the University of Salamanca, Spain, will hold the second edition from 17 to 19 April 2024.

The aim of this second gathering is to discuss the numerous challenges, research and development avenues and new scenarios (physical, technological as well as social and cultural) that we face in the field of Translation and Interpreting, be they in professional, research, intercultural mediation or teaching-learning activities.

Procedure

In our call for papers, we invite researchers and practitioners from all over the world to submit their abstracts for research, development and innovation in the wide range of areas encompassed by Translation and Interpreting. To this end, there will be five parallel paper presentation sessions and a physical space in which we will encourage participants to discuss emerging research, which will be presented in the form of posters. Some sessions will be moderated by outstanding guest speakers, who will also present their research or editorial projects in those sessions.

The three-day programme will include six keynote lectures and five roundtable discussions, in which prestigious experts in the discipline and profession will participate to help us reflect and debate on these new challenges, scenarios and research and development avenues.

For more information, click here.

Deadline for abstracts: 31 October 2023

Co-editors: Ashley RIGGS and Lucile DAVIER
We seek contributions for an edited volume on constructive news across cultures, to be published by
Routledge in 2025 as the IATIS (International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies)
Yearbook.

Deadline for abstracts: 19 November 2023

For more information, click here.