NEWS & EVENTS

Romani Language and Translation

A three-day event was held from October 14 to 16, 2021 that focused discussion on Romani language and culture through the perspective of translation.

Guest speaker-discussants:

• Dafina Savić (lead moderator)
• Anina Ciuciu
• Gilda Horvath
• Viktória Mohácsi
• Dr. Fernand De Varennes

Romani Experiences: Contexts of translation, interpreting, and ethics will take place on July 6th and July 7th, 2022.

The objective of this two-day public online event is to focus discussion on ethics and translation (written) and interpreting (oral) in the Romani context.

It considers ethics in relation to:

• The translator / interpreter in minority language-culture research and activism;
• Translation for minority inclusion and representation in historical narratives; and
• Translation as a human right and civil right.

Topics for the discussion panels include:

• Globalizing ethics and Romani contexts in translation
• The roles of language and translation in the human rights situation of Roma
• Translation as a human right and a civil right
• The right to be translated and the translation of cultural heritage
• Technology and translation in questions of representation
• The historical consequences of being ‘translated’ by others
• Ethical guidelines and translation in legislation and public policy
• The ethical aspects of being both researcher and researched in the context of translation
• Setting the standards for codes of ethics in translation

Romani Experiences: Contexts of translation, interpreting, and ethics is the second workshop in a series of program events organized by the Jean Monnet Chair. It will be followed by a Romani-Translation Summer Institute in 2023. This workshop will lay the foundation for a code of ethics guidelines for translators and interpreters in Romani contexts.

For more information about the program events, please contact ROMTRA@concordia.ca.

Invited Guest Professors:

• Dr. Ian Hancock
• Dr. Hristo Kyuchukov
• Dr. Hedina Sijerčić
• Dr. Rita Kothari

Concordia University Professors:

• Dr. Debbie Folaron
• Dr. Philippe Caignon
• Dr. Sherry Simon

Invited Guest Speakers:

• Dafina Savić
• Nazik Deniz

This interdisciplinary, credit-bearing summer institute, which combines Romani and translation expertise, will provide students with opportunities to learn about various approaches that can be applied to the practice and research of translation in a Romani context.

General objectives:

1. to discuss the specificities of minority translation in general, and Romani translation in particular, with on-site scholars and practitioners;
2. to explore strategies useful for the practice of translation in the Romani context and for the development of bilingual and plurilingual abilities into translation skills;
3. to share insights, experiences, and expertise on diverse translation practices;
4. to encourage avenues of research in the area of Romani translation;
5. to offer students opportunities for translation practice, self-reflection on translation procedures, and discussions with experienced translators and researchers;
6. to create an environment of positive exchange that can inspire the creation of networks and partnerships for future projects and initiatives in the domain of Romani translation.

The summer institute classes are organized into 3-hour modules. Students are expected to actively participate in classes and activities. In addition to several planned activities, students will be encouraged to meet with local students and practitioners working in Canada’s official languages (English, French) and other immigrant and Indigenous languages. Qualified undergraduate and graduate students, translators, teachers, writers, and others wishing to explore the professional and academic areas of Romani translation are encouraged to apply.

Planned course modules include:

• Romani language linguistics
• Romani translation: focus on language
• Romani translation: focus on cultural aspects
• Translation and interpretation for special domains
• Terminology methods for translation purposes
• Self-reflexivity: translators reflect on their translation practices
• Translation implemented as a tool for language teaching
• Translation technology used as a pedagogical tool
• Translation, migration, memory
• Minority translation activism and ethics

Planned organized activities include:

• Guided assistance to students for selecting excerpts of poetry, tales, or short stories to translate for the public student translation reading event at the end of the summer institute
• Practical training in best practices for conducting and transcribing oral interviews
• Hands-on training for translating, subtitling, and captioning of audio-visual content
• Public student translation reading event
• Attribution of the first “Ronald Lee Translator Award”
• Dinner and Montreal Roma evening events

The Romani-Translation Summer Institute is the third in a series of program events planned for the Jean Monnet Chair. It follows Workshop 1 (2021) and Workshop 2 (2022). Mode of delivery is on-site. Final program details will be posted in due course.

For more information about the ROMTRA program events, please contact ROMTRA@concordia.ca.