[CFP] Self-translation in Children's and young adult books

Call for papers: Conference: Self-translation in Children's and young adult books

Padua, 13-14 February 2025

Self-translation has only recently emerged as a separate research field within Translation Studies. Yet it has proved a fertile and promising one, constantly evolving and expanding. Similarly, translation for children and young people has attracted growing scholarly attention over the last twenty years and developed into a research area in its own right. However, studies at the crossroads of the two disciplines are still lacking, although some authors do self-translate in children’s and Young Adult (YA) literature. Even when they are not involved as translators, authors are sometimes invited to take part in the translation process, thus affecting it and contributing to the publishing project in a hybrid, complex way.

This conference seeks to broaden the horizons of translation studies in the context of children’s and YA literature by opening it up to self-translation, a phenomenon that needs to be investigated from both a translation and publishing perspective.

Since avant-textes play a crucial role in the study of translation as a process, we particularly encourage research combining self-translation, translation for young people, and genetic translation studies.

As a translingual and transcultural phenomenon, self-translation can also qualify as transcreation, thus allowing for a redefinition of this concept.

We welcome proposals that address self-translation in books for children and YA from different perspectives. Possible topics may include (but are not limited to):

• Self-translation as an editorial phenomenon, including the role of the paratext(s) (peri-, epi- or hypotext) within its definition and evolution.
• Differences and similarities in translation approaches when self-translating for young people and for adults.
• Self-translation from a translation perspective: approaches, strategies, and possible macro-differences with allo-translation.
• Self-translation and genetic translation studies.
•  Self-translation and transcreation.

Abstract submission

Abstracts (300-400 words, TNR 12) in the language of the presentation should include the following information:

• author(s) with affiliation(s);
• title and text of proposal, also presenting the theoretical and methodological framework;
• a selected bibliography;
• a short bio-bibliographical note.

Abstracts should be submitted to the conference website https://youngselftrans.sciencesconf.org/.

All submissions are blind reviewed by members of the Scientific Committee.

Notification of acceptance will be sent no later than July 15, 2024.

Presentations

Presentations should not exceed 20 minutes and will be followed by a 10-minute discussion.

All proposals accepted for and presented at the conference must be in one of the following languages: French, Italian, Spanish, or English.

Publication

Selected papers will be published. Further information will be provided at the end of the conference.

Deadlines

Deadline for abstract submission to the sciencesCONF platform (https://youngselftrans.sciencesconf.org/): 8 June 2024

Notification of acceptance: 15 July 2024

For more information, please visit the conference website at https://youngselftrans.sciencesconf.org/.

Panel discussion: Translating a self-translation: Epic Annette 8th February

Epic Annette: Podium Discussion with Anne Weber (German-French self-translator) and Tess Lewis (translator of the novel into English), organised by Hannah Scheithauer (Queen’s DPhil candidate in French & German) 

Thursday, 8th February, 5-7pm, Shulman Auditorium, The Queen’s College in Oxford, England

Registration free but essential: https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/blog/epic-annette-an-evening-of-translation-and-resistance-at-queens/

Having grown up in Germany and later settled in France, Anne Weber is an author and translator whose work reaches across two distinct cultural contexts and linguistic traditions. Weber consistently completes both a French and a German version of her writings, engaging in practices of self-translation which maximise the creative potential of her two languages of expression. The stakes of translation, in this context, go far beyond the purely linguistic, as they necessitate an acute awareness to questions of history, memory, and cultural identity. This is aptly illustrated by her latest work. Published in 2020 and titled Annette, ein Heldinnenepos in German, Annette, une épopée in French, it retraces the life of a heroine of the French resistance, who came to fight for Algerian independence in the post-war era. Using a verse form inspired by ancient epic, Weber thus addresses the contested place of colonialism in French national memory. At the same time, the work speaks to distinctively German debates on the singular status of the Holocaust in the country’s memory culture and its relationship to other – and most notably, colonial – histories of violence.

The text was translated into English by Tess Lewis and published as Epic Annette: A Heroine’s Tale by Indigo Press in 2022. Having already won a PEN Translates Award for her skilful translation of the text’s unique form and style, Lewis has recently been shortlisted for the Schlegel-Tieck Prize, which will be awarded in February 2024. Lewis is an accomplished writer and translator from both French and German, with previous translation projects including a range of authors such as Peter Handke, Walter Benjamin, Montaigne, Lutz Seiler, Hans Magnus Enzensberger, and Christine Angot.

During the podium event, Weber and Lewis will discuss their work on the text, the relationship of translation and literary creation, and the challenges of conveying a complex and sensitive story to audiences with vastly different backgrounds, insights, and expectations. Their conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A and a drinks reception.

To sign up, please visit: https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/blog/epic-annette-an-evening-of-translation-and-resistance-at-queens/ 

Self-translation panel at the London Book Fair (12th March 2024)

Self-translation will be a panel topic at the London Book Fair on Tuesday, 12th March 2024,13:15 - 14:00. The panel "Writing the Same Text Twice? Bilingual Poets and Self-translation" will take place at Literary Translation Centre, Panelists are:

• Astrid Alben (Dutch-English)
  
• Beatriz Chivite (Basque-Spanish)
• Iestyn Tyne (Welsh-English)
• Alexandra Büchler (chair)
  
  

Announcement:
Self-translation is a way forward for bilingual authors writing in less translated languages who want to reach a wider audience in a range of markets. It may also give them a chance to approach a text from another cultural and linguistic perspective, rethink and reshape it, producing an authoritative second language version or a second ‘original’. Poets bilingual in Basque, Dutch, English, Spanish and Welsh discuss the processes, challenges and rewards of having the capacity to write in two or more languages and translate one’s own work.

More information and bio of the panelists:
https://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/en-gb/whats-on/seminar-programme/programme/session-details.3614.214541.writing-the-same-text-twice-bilingual-poets-and-self_translation.html