TRANSLATIONFEST II

European Colloquium on Gender & Translation (5th edition) Gendering Agency and Activism in Translation and Interpreting University of Ferrara, Italy, 6-7 June 2022

The alliance between feminism(s) and translation has fostered the development of studies centred around agency and performativity of the individual, the translator or the interpreter and their role in society. In the 21st century, both feminism(s) and translation have become privileged spaces of agency, activism and resistance, thus becoming central to the identification and analysis of the strategies of subordination used to exercise social, political and cultural power. Starting from the work by Rebecca Ruth Gould and Kayvan Tahmasebian, The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Activism (2017), we intend to develop further the notion of the translator/interpreter as activist, namely as champion of political change, advocate of gender equality, promoter of gender diversity, voice-giver and helper of minorities, migrants and refugees, and agent of change capable of putting “into words the perspectives and experiences of oppressed and silenced peoples”. Our reflection also follows in the footsteps of Olga Castro and Emek Ergun’s research on Feminist Translation Studies. Local and Transnational Perspectives (2017) in order to widen the discussion on the interplay between feminist translation, agency and activism as academic fields of enquiry. The Colloquium aims at making visible the important role of interpreters and translators in: 1) promoting and enabling social, political and cultural change around the world; 2) promoting equality; 3) fighting discrimination; 4) supporting gender diversity; 5)supporting human rights; 6) empowering minorities; 7) challenging authority and injustice not only across European countries but all over the world; 8) facilitating network-building activities among activists and agents of change and 8) teaching feminist translation as a pedagogical act in support of social and gender equality. We are aware that translation is a powerful tool capable of producing social, political and cultural transformation. Thus, the Colloquium wants to open a forum of discussion and reflection on the contribution offered by practitioners, stakeholders and scholars to the study of translation as activism and agent of change. Abstracts (up to 250 words) are invited on any aspect of the interface between translation, agency and activism and particularly on (but not limited to) the following topics: Activism through translation and interpreting The role of translators and interpreters in promoting gender equality The role of translators and interpreters in fighting discrimination The role of translators and interpreters as champions of gender diversity Translation and interpreting as acts of resistance to and change of the dynamics between gender and power The role of translators and interpreters as voice-givers to minorities Translation and human rights Translators’ and interpreters’ agency exercised across different media Translation and interpreting as network-building activities among activists and agents of change Feminism(s), translation and interpreting: common grounds, challenges, divergences Implementing innovative (feminist) strategies of translation across media and cultures Border-crossing and feminism(s): synergies in translation and interpreting projects The importation of feminism(s) through translation and interpreting Personal experience and the translation praxis: the importance of (feminist) translators’ agency Teaching (feminist) translation as a pedagogical act in support of social and gender equality Translating (feminist) texts from/into different languages and cultures Practical arrangements Colloquium format: in person (University of Ferrara) and online Presentations: in the form of Papers (a 20-minute presentation + a 10-minute discussion) Official languages: presentations will be in English and Spanish Abstract evaluation: double-blind and peer-reviewed. Abstracts should be sent (to translationfest2022@gmail.com) as MS-Word attachments and include: o - Name(s) of author(s) o - Author affiliation(s) – university or institution, e-mail o - Title o - Abstract (up to 250 words) o - 3-4 keywords to identify the subject matter of your presentation Following the colloquium, presenters will be invited to contribute to a publication in English (volume of essays). More information will be circulated in due time. Key dates Deadline for submission of abstracts: 15 April 2022 Notification of acceptance: 30 April 2022 Confirmed plenary speakers Eliana Maestri, University of Exeter Lupe Romero, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona José Santaemilia, Universitat de València Conference organisers Università di Ferrara: Eleonora Federici, Giulia Giorgi, Luisa Marino and Marta Fabbri University of Exeter: Eliana Maestri Universitat de Valencia: José Santaemilia. TRANSLATIONFEST