Literature in a multilingual country. Translating from minority languages. Training translators in the rare skill
Deсember 5, 2024
The International Literary Forum addressed a number of issues topical for the translation industry
Opening the discussion, editor-in-chief of the OGI publishing house Maxim Amelin outlined what he believes to be a central problem with the literary process in Russia: “We have some sixty literary languages, but only one institution of higher education that trains translators.” Joining the discussion, other forum participants shared their thoughts on how this state of affairs reflects on the minority literatures, and how translator training fares in other countries.
“Translation and literary ties are vital for Dagestan,” poet and publisher Murad Akhmedov said. “Translation from the languages of the Caucasus does not come easy. It is a form of art that requires cultural insight first of all. Because you are not translating words, but metaphors, meanings, and contexts... There is a living, breathing literature in the provinces. But if translators fail to let the rest of Russia see it, who will?”
In the Khanty-Mansi District, according to writer Yeremey Aipin, the lack of a systemic policy on literary translator training is felt just as strongly as in Dagestan. But there is a silver lining to that cloud: ties are being forged extensively with Finno-Ugric authors, and a few interregional and international writers’ conferences are planned (“We count on AWPUR’s support with this,” Aipin added).
Literary scholar Saodat Kamilova, professor at Mirzo Ulugbek National University, gave an update on the ongoing effort by the literary and academic communities of Uzbekistan to restore some of the greatness of Soviet translation schooling (“We are only beginning to gather the stones”). Slavic philologist Olga Pankina shared some thoughts from her experience as a translator of Macedonian literature. Pankina won a Yasnaya Polyana Prize in 2023 for her translation of the novel Navel of the World by Venko Andonovski.
It is common practice in China to reward translators on par with authors, noted Zheng Tiwu, Director of the Institute of World Literature at Shanghai University of Foreign Studies. China treasures its minority literatures. At least sixteen Chinese universities graduate translators of minority languages.
“Translation and literary ties are vital for Dagestan,” poet and publisher Murad Akhmedov said. “Translation from the languages of the Caucasus does not come easy. It is a form of art that requires cultural insight first of all. Because you are not translating words, but metaphors, meanings, and contexts... There is a living, breathing literature in the provinces. But if translators fail to let the rest of Russia see it, who will?”
In the Khanty-Mansi District, according to writer Yeremey Aipin, the lack of a systemic policy on literary translator training is felt just as strongly as in Dagestan. But there is a silver lining to that cloud: ties are being forged extensively with Finno-Ugric authors, and a few interregional and international writers’ conferences are planned (“We count on AWPUR’s support with this,” Aipin added).
Literary scholar Saodat Kamilova, professor at Mirzo Ulugbek National University, gave an update on the ongoing effort by the literary and academic communities of Uzbekistan to restore some of the greatness of Soviet translation schooling (“We are only beginning to gather the stones”). Slavic philologist Olga Pankina shared some thoughts from her experience as a translator of Macedonian literature. Pankina won a Yasnaya Polyana Prize in 2023 for her translation of the novel Navel of the World by Venko Andonovski.
It is common practice in China to reward translators on par with authors, noted Zheng Tiwu, Director of the Institute of World Literature at Shanghai University of Foreign Studies. China treasures its minority literatures. At least sixteen Chinese universities graduate translators of minority languages.