Translating Literatures of the Global South: Challenges, Questions, and Debates

18-20 July 2024

Department of English, Utkal University

Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar

The terms "Global North" and "Global South" extend beyond mere indicators of socio-economic and political disparities, which typically categorize countries based on their levels of development, wealth, influence, and power. These labels encapsulate intricate relational dynamics shaped by colonial legacies, economic inequalities, consumption and production patterns, cultural hegemony, hierarchical structures, and political supremacy. Interestingly, literature and literary activities are not exempted from these divisions and frequently reflect them in multifaceted ways.

The recent triumph of Daisy Rockwell’s translation of Geetanjali Shree’s Hindi masterpiece Ret Samadhi as Tomb of Sand at the International Booker Prize cannot be overstated. It marks a watershed moment for Indian Literature in English translation, highlighting not only the literary brilliance of a Global South work but also emphasizing the crucial role of translation in accessing and appreciating literatures from diverse cultural contexts. What set the success of Tomb of Sand apart from earlier triumphs by writers like Rushdie, Roy, or Adiga on a global platform is that it finally affirmed the long-awaited recognition of translations as equal partners in the literary endeavor. However, a compelling irony arises: Does the accolade of a novel by a Global South author, translated by a member of the Global North (specifically, the USA), winning recognition from the powerful North truly signify the establishment of an equal and individual space? Or does it merely reinforce existing power structures favoring the Global North? Such questions prompt reflections on the implications for the future of translation and cultural representation of the Global South, and the workings of decolonization in this context.

Addressing these questions necessitates nuanced examination within the realms of literary translation and cultural representation. It calls for critical engagement with deeper understanding of political, cultural, and literary ideologies invested in the deeper layers of these constructions. Translation plays a pivotal role in shaping relationships between the Global North and South, with the potential to either bridge divides or exacerbate disparities. Translation serves as a means of cultural exchange, enabling access to diverse literary traditions and facilitating understanding across linguistic and cultural boundaries. However, it can also perpetuate power imbalances and linguistic hierarchies, particularly within the Global South, where certain languages are privileged over others.

Power dynamics and linguistic hierarchies: Even within the context of the Global South, characterized by multilingual communities, translation is a complex process. In India for instance, a linguistic hierarchy exists, where languages such as English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Bengali occupy the apex, overshadowing many other languages. This hierarchy, evident in the "language pyramid," perpetuates inequalities within multilingual communities, influencing which texts are deemed worthy of translation. The rift between languages is further widened by the role played by publishing houses in the Global South.

Role of publishing houses and market forces: The influence of publishing houses and market dynamics on the translation landscape of Global South literature cannot be overstated. Mainstream publishing tends to prioritize translations from dominant languages, leading to the marginalization of works from less widely spoken languages. This perpetuates a cycle of invisibility for literature originating from marginalized linguistic communities, as market-driven decisions dictate which texts or genres receive translation funding and distribution opportunities.

However, amidst this market-driven paradigm, notable exceptions emerge that challenge the status quo and contribute significantly to the diversification of translated literature. One such exemplary project is the Macmillan Modern Indian Novels in Translation Series (1996), curated by Minni Krishnan and funded by the MR.AR. Educational Society, Madras. Spanning from 1996 to 2000, this initiative published 37 titles translated into English from 11 Indian languages. What sets this project apart is that, for the first time, a translation program was fully funded by the private sector.

Decolonizing translation: Decolonizing translation is central to translating literatures of the Global South. It goes beyond merely converting texts into English but strives to maintain the essence and cultural uniqueness of the original language. This process signifies a shift from translations that read as anglicized versions and instead highlights the richness and authenticity of the original tongue even when conveyed in English. In practical terms, decolonizing translation involves employing translation strategies that prioritize cultural fidelity and authenticity over linguistic conformity. For example, translators may choose to retain indigenous terminology where appropriate, and resisting the temptation to homogenize certain linguistic expressions into standardized English forms. Similarly, collaborative translation has emerged as one of the approaches to decolonizing translation practices.

The Department of English, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, announces a two-day International Conference during 18-20 July 2024 to explore these themes. By interrogating the dynamics of translation, language, and publishing, this conference seeks to explore the challenges and opportunities inherent in the translation and dissemination of Global South literatures.

The conference invites presentations on the topics listed below, although related topics not covered here, may also be explored. Presentations can be on authors, translators, and individual texts, but ought to give some sense of a theoretically thought through context of the literature of Global South.

Themes

• From Global South to Global North via translation
• Role of publishing houses in Global South translations
• Language hierarchy and multilingualism
• English language and power dynamics
• Translations within languages of the Global South
• Translation strategies employed by translators of the Global South
• Decolonizing translation
• Genres specific to Global South translations
• Gender and Ecology in Global South translations
• Collaborative translation
• Exotic East in Global South translations

Guidelines for Submission

• Soft copy of the abstract and full paper should be sent as an email attachment to  
• For abstract, author’s name and the term “abstract” should be mentioned in the subject line of the email
• Abstract must be within 250 words and should be attached with a brief bio-note of the author
• Research papers should be formatted as per MLA (8th Edition)
• Scripts should be sent as MS Word document (font: Times New Roman, font size 12)
• Word Limit of the full paper 2500-3000

Submission of abstracts: 30 April 2024

Acceptance Intimation: 05 May 2024

Payment of Conference fee: 10 May 2024