Teaching literary translation in the superdiverse city

TL;DR

The speaker discusses the challenges of translating in a superdiverse city like Melbourne, highlighting the ethical issues surrounding multiculturalism and the need for cooperation between cultures.

Transcript

My question is how to translate  in the superdiverse city. My city for this one is Melbourne. This  is actually a talk I'm doing for the European   School in Literary Translation which is  focused on how to train literary translators   so I'll be looking at particularly training  situations and a few questions of ethics which   is what is this year... Read More

Key Insights

• 🙊 Melbourne has become a superdiverse city, with over 270 languages spoken at home.
• ❓ Racial prejudice and discrimination are prevalent issues in Melbourne, requiring ethical considerations and cooperation between cultures.
• 🛄 Translation activities should aim to promote cooperative relationships and mutual benefits between cultures, rather than solely focusing on fidelity to the text or the author.
• 🖐️ Translations can play a vital role in superdiverse cities like Melbourne, contributing to cultural understanding, tolerance, and knowledge exchange.
• 🎮 Translation projects can be expanded beyond written texts to include promotional videos, audiovisual translations, and active engagement with the community.
• 💨 Literary translation classes can incorporate activities that encourage students to actively participate in translation projects and explore ways to promote cultural cooperation.
• 👨‍🔬 Online reviews of translations and research on translations within local communities can provide valuable insights into reception and the impact of translations.

Questions & Answers

Q: How has Melbourne transformed from a monolingual English-speaking city to a superdiverse multilingual city?

Melbourne has experienced a significant shift towards diversity, with over 270 languages spoken at home, indicating a rich multicultural and multilingual environment.

Q: How are ethical concerns incorporated into translation in a superdiverse city like Melbourne?

Ethical concerns in translation encompass promoting long-term cooperation between cultures, ensuring mutual benefits in terms of coexistence, and addressing discrimination and prejudice.

Q: How can translation activities contribute to reducing racial prejudice and promoting cultural understanding in Melbourne?

Translation activities can be enhanced by translating works in a visible way, adopting a self-justification of visibility, and actively engaging with the public through events, discussions, and promotions. These activities can help challenge bigotry and racism and foster cultural cooperation.

Q: How can students in literary translation classes actively participate in translation projects and engage with the community?

Students can propose translation projects, pitch them to publishers, create promotional videos for translations, and explore audiovisual translations or audio projects. Engaging with book clubs, researching online reviews of translations, and studying translations within local languages and communities can also provide valuable insights and opportunities for active participation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker talks about the growth of diversity in Melbourne, with over 270 languages spoken at home, and the potential for translation to improve communication and understanding in the city.

• Ethical problems related to racial prejudice and discrimination in Melbourne are discussed, highlighting the need for cooperation between cultures to overcome these challenges.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of promoting cooperative relationships between cultures through translation, focusing on interactions, reception, and events, rather than sole fidelity to the text or the author.