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This year I will be leading the Multilingual Prose workshop at the @bcltuea Summer School, which will have a focus on 'Less Translated Languages'. I want to highlight the various bursaries available, & I'd like to share some thoughts on the 'LTL' definition: [1/14]
![This year I will be leading the Multilingual Prose workshop at the @bcltuea Summer School, which will have a focus on 'Less Translated Languages'. I want to highlight the various bursaries available, & I'd like to share some thoughts on the 'LTL' definition: [1/14]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Esu9oOuXIAsHXn2.jpg "This year I will be leading the Multilingual Prose workshop at the @bcltuea Summer School, which will have a focus on 'Less Translated Languages'. I want to highlight the various bursaries available, & I'd like to share some thoughts on the 'LTL' definition: [1/14]")
Full details of all bursaries can be found at: http://www.bclt.org.uk/summer-school/bursaries. To flag here: there are four types of bursary that applicants to the LTL strand could apply for: 1) Four full bursaries for UK-based Black and Brown literary translators provided by @WritersCentre; [2/14]
... 2) Two full bursaries from @bcltuea, open to translators on a low income or who specifically require extra financial support; 3) Ten full British Council for applicants residing in a country that qualifies for Official Development Assistance (see link above for list); [3/14]
... 4) There are also two bursaries available from @prohelvetia for Romansch-English literary translators. [4/14]
The workshop is intended to offer an opportunity to translators (who translate into English) who never, or rarely, see their language(s) represented in workshops & training programmes to benefit from the sharing of knowledge and experience, building networks, and... [5/14]
... in this case, perhaps reflecting on *why* some languages are less translated. LTLs are, according to one definition, languages that are 'less often the source of translation in the international exchange of linguistic goods' (Branchadell, 2005). [6/14]
This definition was chosen as it emphasises the role of dominant publishing hierarchies in *producing* LTLs, rather than seeking to situate, or attribute any particular property to, the languages themselves. [7/14]
Such a broad definition is, in some ways, welcome: it doesn't seek to prescribe who is included and excluded from that definition. But such breadth can also obscure many forms of oppression and privilege. We must acknowledge that not all LTLs are alike: [8/14]
... not in form, not in how institutions structure their chances for publication, and not in how translators of these languages are viewed within translation spaces; in how they can access networks, support, opportunities. [9/14]
As I saw Yilin Wang tweet words to this effect last week: translating from an LTL doesn't mean that you, as a translator, are marginalised; though for many, this is also true (haven't tagged Yilin because we don't know each other & I sense they're fielding enough traffic) [10/14]
Accordingly, translating from a less translated language can mean very different things to different people, and I would like the workshop to be a space where participants can, should they feel comfortable, problematise the term... [11/14]
... and consider what kind of knowledge(s) and practice(s) the 'less translated' label might exclude. This may also include arguing for or interrogating alternative, or complementary, terms. [12/14]
I'm really excited that this workshop is happening, but I didn't want to announce it without opening up a space for conversation around the definition. I hope it's ongoing, & that the LTL strand is shared far and wide, so as to really take advantage of the online format. [13/14]
Information on how to apply can be found here: http://www.bclt.org.uk/summer-school/apply, and there's a contact email on the BCLT Summer School pages. I'd also be happy to answer any questions anyone might have: DMs are open. [14/14]
