Translation and Conflict: A Narrative Account

by Mona Baker

Overview

Translation and Conflict demonstrates that translators and interpreters participate in circulating as well as resisting the narratives that create the intellectual and moral environment for violent conflict. Drawing on narrative theory and using numerous examples from historical and contemporary conflicts, the author provides an original and coherent model of analysis that pays equal attention to micro and macro aspects of the circulation of narratives in translation, to translation and interpreting, and to questions of dominance and resistance.

The study is particularly significant at this juncture of history, with the increased interest in the positioning of translators in politically sensitive contexts, the growing concern with translators’ and interpreters’ divided loyalties in settings such as Guantanamo, Iraq, Kosovo, and other arenas of conflict, and the emergence of several activist communities of translators and interpreters with highly politicized agendas of their own, including Babels, Translators for Peace, Tlaxcala and ECOS.

Including further reading suggestions at the end of each chapter, Translation and Conflict will be of interest to students of translation, intercultural studies and sociology as well as the reader interested in the study of social and political movements.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415383967
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/12/2006
Edition description:	1ST
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mona Baker is Professor of Translation Studies and Director of the Centre for Translation and Intercultural Studies, University of Manchester. She is author of In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation; Editor of The Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies, Founding Editor of The Translator, and Vice President of the International Association of Translation and Cultural Studies.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements List of Figures 1. Introduction 1.1 Translation, Power, Conflict 1.2 Why Narrative? 1.3 Overview of Chapters Core References Further Reading 2. Introducing Narrative Core References Further Reading 3. A Typology of Narrative Core References Further Reading 4. Understanding How Narratives Work: Features of Narrativity I Core References Further Reading 5. Understanding How Narratives Work: Features of Narrativity II Core References Further Reading 6. Framing Narratives in Translation Core References Further Reading 7. Assessing Narratives: The Narrative Paradigm 7.5 Concluding Remarks Core References Further Reading Glossary Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

'The compelling arguments, the topicality of the many examples and their wide range of reference, the clarity of the writing, and the finely poised balance between the author’s scholarly rigour and her lucid awareness of indeterminacy and ideology make this a particularly exciting and challenging piece of scholarship.' - Dirk Delabastita, University of Namur, Belgium

'Scientific and critical, never gratuitously polemic, ... This groundbreaking volume rigorously examines the relation between translation, power and conflict. In this courageous volume, Mona Baker shows the importance in today’s global world of translation and interpreting for life over the planet, and succeeds in calling our attention to the responsibilities that the translator and interpreter must never evade.' – Susan Petrilli, University of Bari, Italy

'A compelling account and an intellectually honest enquiry into the issues involved in handling competing narratives, of vital interest not only to translators and translation theorists but also to users of translation products.' – Ian Mason, Heriot Watt University, UK

'Translation and Conflict undoubtedly constitutes a turning point in Translation Studies.' - África Vidal Claramnote, University of Salamanca, Spain

'Perceptive, provocative and always engaging, …. a timely investigation into a hidden realm of translation practice where the stakes – human, political and international – are growing ever higher.' - David Johnston, Queen’s University Belfast, UK

'Conclusively, this interdisciplinary publication complete with a practical and clearly-written glossary is perfectly illustrated by lively, interesting and telling contemporary examples throughout, which not only help the reader understand the main points put into practice but, at the same time, serve as a many-faceted backdrop to the soulful conflicts and instances of political aggression currently interweaving the texture of our global planet.' - Károli Gáspár University of Hungarian Reformed Church

'Translation and Conflict is a remarkable work that puts forward a very careful and critical analysis of the subtle shifts that take place in various personal and shared narratives in the process of translation.' - Scott S. Elliott, The Bible Translator

'... a serious, precise work offering sharp and new perspectives on the present day world economic, social, political and military reality in which the role played by translators and interpreters in the shaping of the world'shall be considered and recorded.' - Babel

'...an outstanding book... its subject matter and approach give it an appeal that goes far beyond the concerns of translation studies... the book acheives the very rare feat of being eloquent and accessible to the non-specialist reader, and at the same time, rigorous and nuanced in its arguement... Translation and Conflict is an interesting, incisive, timely and very readable analysis of an important subject which deserves a wide audience.' - Richard Jackson, Aberystwyth University

'… a compelling account and an intellectually honest enquiry into the issues involved in handling competing narratives, of vital interest not only to translators and translation theorists but also to users of translation products.' - Ian Mason, Heriot Watt University, UK

'Translation and Conflict undoubtedly constitutes a turning point in Translation Studies.' - África Vidal Claramnote, University of Salamanca, Spain

'Perceptive, provocative and always engaging, …. a timely investigation into a hidden realm of translation practice where the stakes – human, political and international – are growing ever higher.' - David Johnston, Queen’s University Belfast, UK

'Conclusively, this interdisciplinary publication complete with a practical and clearly-written glossary is perfectly illustrated by lively, interesting and telling contemporary examples throughout, which not only help the reader understand the main points put into practice but, at the same time, serve as a many-faceted backdrop to the soulful conflicts and instances of political aggression currently interweaving the texture of our global planet.' - Károli Gáspár University of Hungarian Reformed Church

From the Publisher