New Perspectives on Hispanic Cultures: English-Spanish Translation in the US context
30 - 31 MAY, 2024 | Hybrid
Deadline to submit proposals: March 31st
Once again, the Cervantes Institute at Harvard University invites researchers interested in the Spanish language or Hispanic cultures to present their work to the academic community. The recipients of this invitation are both professors or researchers from the academic world (experts or recent Ph.D. graduates, doctoral students, graduates, and final-year undergraduates) and professionals in the field of translation interested in the symposium's theme. Throughout the years, the symposium has featured specialists in topics related to the Observatorio's areas of study from very diverse disciplines: Language and Linguistics, Literature, Pedagogy and Teaching, Translation, Cultural Studies, Art, History, Sociology, Anthropology, Politics, and Psychology, and, more recently, Science and Technology.
This ninth symposium aims to delve into translation between English and Spanish in the United States. Its main objectives are to highlight the importance of translation in the dissemination of Hispanic cultures within North American society; to explore the difficulties and possibilities that this multilingual and multicultural environment presents for translators in various sectors; and to recognize the crucial role of translation as mediation, its social value in the integration of Hispanic communities in this country, as well as in social cohesion and dynamism. The papers may offer not only academic reflections but also presentations on the issues and professional reality of translators and interpreters. And they may address the topics from a wide range of perspectives, always in the context of Spanish-English exchange, in any direction, in the United States: linguistic, cultural, pedagogical, artistic, sociological, historical, political, economic, technological, and professional aspects of translation, in its various areas and modalities (literary translation, specialized translation, audiovisual translation, interpretation, etc.). The papers must be original works and may be presented in English or Spanish.
The symposium will be held in a hybrid format and will consist of two sessions, each including a keynote lecture, several 15-minute presentations or joint panels, and an open discussion at the end. It will be broadcast via Zoom, and speakers will have the option to participate either in person or virtually. The keynote lectures will be given by Patrick Zabalbeascoa (Full Professor of Translation at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain) and writer and literary translator Rubén Martín Giráldez (invited with the support of the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, DC, as part of its literature program Spain Writes, America Reads).
Those interested must send their proposals in a Word document including the following information: name and institution of the speaker, title of the presentation or panel in the chosen language for the presentation, abstract of maximum 200 words (300 words for a panel, and participants' names), as well as presentation mode.
The document should be sent to: observatorio.sympo@fas.harvard.edu. The deadline is March 31st, and the decision on selected presentations will be notified by April 12th.
(The link to RSVP and to the program will be available in May)