 |
 |
Holocaust Writing and Translation Thursday, 24 February 2011 A Workshop organised under the auspices of Aberystwyth University, the University of Edinburgh and the Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies, London Coordinators: Andrea Hammel (Aberystwyth) and Peter Davies (Edinburgh) Venue: Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies, University of London CALL FOR PAPERS Interest in writing by survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust is increasing rather than decreasing with the passing of the years; the Holocaust is a key component of educational curricula in the USA and many European countries, literary and historical works and memoirs of survivors regularly reach the bestseller lists, and films with a Holocaust theme attract large audiences. However, the vast majority of these works of testimony and literature are read and interpreted in translation, usually without any acknowledgement of this fact. Much of the critical language of 'authenticity' and 'immediacy' that is used in connection with testimonial and autobiographical writing of Holocaust survivors does not take into account the effects of translation, and there has been very little scholarly work on the translation of these texts. Work in Translation Studies has drawn attention to the role of the translator both as a cultural mediator making texts available to new audiences and as an interpreter of the text affected by a variety of ideological influences; making visible the translator and the conditions under which translations are produced unsettles some of the assumptions of studies of Holocaust writing, but also opens up new fields of investigation. This work can only be done by bringing together scholars of Translation, Life writing, Holocaust writing and experts with different linguistic expertise. This workshop will be the fourth meeting of the AHRC Network Holocaust Writing and Translation, and will include a public event to be held at the Wiener Library inviting interested members of the public to participate. Proposals for papers are invited on any issue relating to the theme, such as * The interaction of translation and reception of Holocaust texts * The productivity of translation * The ethical responsibility of the translator in the field of Holocaust writing * The question of authorial 'voice' * The consequences of translation for the authenticity of testimony * The relationship of translation theory and practice * Genre and genre shifts in translation and reception of Holocaust texts * The development of translation norms and their relation to changes in the status of the Holocaust, the role of the witness, etc. * Questions of editorial and marketing practice * The status of languages into/out of which texts are translated, in relation to Holocaust memory * Canon formation and translation Please send proposals for papers (no more than 300 words) to both and Andrea Hammel ([log in to unmask]) and Peter Davies ([log in to unmask]) by 31 October 2010. Jane Lewin Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies University of London School of Advanced Study Room ST 272, Senate House Malet Street, GB- London WC1E 7HU Telephone 0044 (0)20 7862 8966 Website www.igrs.sas.ac.uk