This blogpost aims to reflect on feminist translation practices from my perspective as a translator working out of my heritage languages into English and championing a transnational approach. In recent years, I have translated works by women authors hailing from Romania that span the experience of several cultural communities: in addition to writers representing the majority Romanian population also including German, Hungarian and Romani artists. I am adamant to promote an intersectional approach and to draw attention to voices from minoritised backgrounds (as women belonging to ethnic, religious or racial minorities, or combinations thereof), and also to offer equal opportunities for late starters or emerging writers.
I translate across multiple literary genres, with an affinity for drama – closely connected to my academic research – and for writing that straddles generic boundaries. In fact, I have an affinity for work that defies norms in some way or other, and I actively look out for voices that bring a fresh perspective on constructing a character or handling narrative structure for instance. In conjunction with this, I seek out texts with strong female protagonists (even when written by men at times), and I have a particular interest in the trope of women’s lineage and mother-daughter relationships. This has been recurrent in my drama translations, such as Elise Wilk’s powerful plays Disappearing and Alaska that explore the haunting of the past across generations and shed light on the complexities of this experience on Romania’s ethnic German population. Alexandra Badea’s Exile is similarly a play with strong maternal lines, addressing the issue of belonging and displacement in the context of Romania’s long-standing cultural connections with France. Both playwrights deal with transgenerational trauma as they pinpoint sensitive aspects of women’s experience. Translating them into English and trying to find outlets for production, my aim is to make women’s presence visible by drawing attention to the feminist aspects inherent in the text.
Translation is never absolute but contingent on context, and I consider carefully the conditions in which a particular interlinguistic transfer takes place. In other words, the destination for a given translation is a primary consideration, and this also has an impact on the extent to which I get involved in the text and carve out a path for myself as the co-creator of the target language version. My philosophy is that translation is a creative art form that is interventionist and activist, and I insist on acknowledging that translations have an origin in a foreign language rather than camouflaging this process and/or striving for excessive domestication with a view to easier consumption or integration into the target culture. To this end, I believe it is essential to be open about the interventions within the translation process, as this is likely to increase its credibility and impact.
Of course, not all situations are conducive to these kinds of revelations, and only some publishers have an interest in creating such spaces for translators. I am extremely grateful to Ugly Duckling Presse for not only allowing but actually inviting me to include a translator’s note in their edition of MyLifeandmylife by Romania-based Hungarian-language author Melinda Mátyus that I translated for them. I was given free rein to contextualise the work and they also created an opportunity for the inclusion of an afterword by an established critic to further appraise the work. This was additionally important because the publisher has taken a rare leap of faith and commissioned an English version prior to the existence of translations into other languages, and even prior to the author’s first book-length publication in the original language. Moreover, the volume includes the original text along with the translation, again celebrating their parallel existence rather than sidelining one for the benefit of the other. To further mark the publication, my translator’s note was reprinted on the online platform Reading in Translation, itself a major champion of women’s work as translators as well as writers in multiple languages, and the publishers put me in touch with Mayday magazine where a shorter companion text by Mátyus was also published in English.
By translating an iconoclastic author such as Melinda Mátyus, I am also extending an invitation to readers to be mindful of literary models other than dominant patterns in the Anglo-American norm. Her writing often invokes an oral tradition, including unusual turns of the phrase, as well as extensive repetitions and reduplications, which have become a trademark feature of her style. In MyLifeandMyLife, class and education dynamics are mapped out in parallel to gender dynamics and power relations, as the work explores the sexual exploitation of women and examines the female body as a commodity. MyLifeandMyLife looks at the consumption of art and the commodification of women side by side, but even though the work features detailed references to instances of modern art, it is not a form of ekphrastic writing. Instead, art becomes a means of refuge for the protagonist, and a means to reclaim agency in conditions when agency is precisely what is denied to her by the stifling patriarchal system she inhabits.
While the focus on a female, albeit unnamed, protagonist could not be more obvious in MyLifeandMyLife, in my translation of Home by Andrea Tompa (published by Istros Books, 2024), one of the major challenges has been to deal with the ambiguity around the gender of an equally unnamed protagonist. The author defers the revelation of this aspect until well over a hundred pages into the book, and due to the nature of the Hungarian language, this can be achieved without creating an unusually opaque or awkward situation by using gender-neutral pronouns and referring to the character via the various contextual situations afforded by the narrative.
In trying to do justice to this strategy, I consulted the author, and spent time considering a range of alternatives and assessing their respective consequences before making a conscious decision, from finding ways of avoiding the revelation of the protagonist’s gender or, in alignment with the conventions of most writing in English, simply revealing it from the very beginning. Whilst doing so, I was mindful of the implications of these options, seeing that systematic avoidance was likely to be interpreted as cumbersome – and hence a hindrance to readers’ enjoyment – and possibly inviting negative criticism for a supposedly ‘un-English’ translation, whilst an instant revelation would have the potential to remove the sense of anticipation and suspense inherent in the original and introduce a drastic stylistic shift.
In the end, I opted for avoiding the use of generic pronouns in the opening quarter of the book, and found ways to identify the protagonist with reference to the various activities and situations discussed in the respective chapters. The essayistic structure was of great help in this regard, as the book isn’t a conventional linear narrative, and there were relatively few gender-related ambiguities in the case of the other characters. We agreed with the author that by the time the pronoun ‘she’ was introduced, an observant reader would have already gained a pretty good idea about the protagonist’s gender anyway; therefore, we were aiming for an understatement rather than a grand revelation to create a big fuss.
I elaborated on these considerations in a short piece prior to the publication of the full translation, as they were foundational to the entire process. In this reflection, I address the close detective work needed to survey intimations in various parts of the book, as well as the need for drawing conclusions from contextual clues. I believe this approach is an example of gender-conscious translation adequate for purpose, and complements the author’s parallel strategies in terms of a fragmented narrative and deliberate avoidance to pin down tell-tale personal names or geographical locations. There is no actual place tied in with the main plot detail – a class reunion through which all the characters are connected in some way or other – and only a few episodic figures are situated in specific geo-cultural contexts.
All these strategies are examples of feminist creativity and perhaps it should not be surprising that a male reviewer questioned their legitimacy and expressed his doubts about whether such ‘universal[ising]’ tendencies can make the book ‘sellable’ in English-speaking countries. He also felt the need to explicitate locations he supposedly identified simply by having some knowledge of the author’s personal background and actual birthplace. Such mansplaining and resistant reading of feminist work is missing the point in the best case, and in the worst, it is a sheer refusal to acknowledge that dominant patriarchal and sexist structures can be questioned as part of feminist macro-strategies (cf. Luise von Flotow, ‘Feminist translation strategies’, Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies, eds. Baker and Saldanha, 2019: 181). Moreover, such a critique implies drawing a direct parallel between the person of the author and the protagonist of the book (as it happens also a writer, who readers learn in due course is a woman), in essence refusing to engage with the operation of feminist meaning-making per se, in literary creation or in translation alike.
This is why expanding on such issues in footnotes, prefaces, translator’s notes as well as platforms such as the FTN is absolutely necessary and have to be part and parcel of the political act of feminist translation and publishing. In addition to paying aclose attention to how gender issues and ideologies are conveyed via the textual features of the source text, pondering on options and weighing up consequences, and lastly finding solutions in the target language, it is equally important to explicitly draw attention to these creative processes, in order to make feminist interventions visible and women’s voices audible.
Jozefina Komporaly, University of the Arts London
Pictured: Melinda Mátyus and Jozefina Komporaly at the launch of MyLifeandMyLife at the Liszt Institute in New York (11 February 2025), photo courtesy of Liszt Institute NY.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you. https://accounts.binance.info/es-MX/register?ref=GJY4VW8W
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article. https://www.binance.info/en-IN/register?ref=A80YTPZ1
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article. https://accounts.binance.com/uk-UA/register?ref=XZNNWTW7
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good. https://www.binance.info/id/register?ref=UM6SMJM3
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article. https://www.binance.info/ru/register?ref=O9XES6KU
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me. https://www.binance.info/ph/register?ref=IU36GZC4
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article. https://www.binance.info/zh-CN/register?ref=WFZUU6SI
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
It will always be helpful to read content from other
writers and use a little something from other websites.
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Exploring a gaqming platfprm built for real cash action adds
extra excitement to digital entertainment. A lot off players enjoy smooth balance
management, along with easy-to-follow conditions. In a well-organized environment, everything feels more enjoyable.
That helps build a pleasant experience.
Joining a platform that offers a welcome bonuis adds extra value to thhe early
experience. By receiving bonus funds at the start, users can enjoy a wider
range of entertainment in a comfortable way. Many players appreciate easy-to-read
offer details. With practical account features
included, everything feels welll organized and easy to manage.
Exxploring a gaming platform built for real cash action adds extra excitement to ddigital entertainment.
Modern audiences often look for practical payment options, along
with easy-to-follow conditions. With a user-friendly layout, everything feels more convenient.
As a result, there is a pleasant experience.
Starting with a casino welccome bonus creates a stronger beginning for new players.
Thanks to an extra boost on the account, users can exploire more game options in a comfortable way.
A lot of users enjoy easy-to-read offer details. Alongside
a user-friendly layout, everything feelss pleasant and positive from the start.
Een welkomstbonus bij een online casino zorgt voor een extra positieve start.
Met extra saldo op het account kunnen gebruikers langer
van het aanbod genieten. Voor veel mensen is het belangrijk dat de voorwaarden duidelijk zijn. Samen met een overzichtelijk platform voelt alles praktisch en gemakkelijk te gebruiken.
Een speelplatform met zeer snelle betalingen selecteren zorgt voor extra cokmfort tijdens elke sessie.
Zonder onnodige vertraging bij het opnemen van saldo, kunnen spelers vlotter over hun saldo beschikken. Hierdoor voelt alles soepeler aan. Gecombineerd met heldere regels blijft alles comfortabel en positief.
Opter pour un casino en ligne connu pour ses versements
rapides rend chaue session plus agréable.
Au lieu d’attendre longtemps avant de recevoir ses gains, l’utilisateur peut recevcoir ses fonds dans un délai plus
court. Cetye rapidité renforce lla satisfaction générale.
Grâce à dess conditions transparentes, tout devient
plus simple.
Découvrir une plateforme de jeu avec retraits immédiats apporte davantage
de confort à chaque session. Sans subir dde délais inutiles
loors du retrait, l’utilisateur peut bénéficier d’un paiement presque immédiat.
Cette approche moderne crée une impression positive.
Grâce à des procédures transparentes, tout devient
plus simple.
Opter pour une plteforme de jeu aux retraits immédiats peut rendre l’expérience beaucoup plus fluide.
Au lieu d’attendre longtemps pour accéder auxx gains, l’utilisateur peut
profiter d’un accès plus direct à son solde. Cette rapidité crée unee
impression positive. Grâce à des procédures transparentes, tout devient plus confortable.
A casino welcome offer can make the first visit more enjoyable.
With added value on the account, users can explore a wider variety
of entertainment. That extra support can make the platform
feel more rewarding. Simple activation steps also mae
the process easier to follow. Together with intuitive navigation, the overall atmosphwre stays well organized.
A fastest payout online casino adsds more comfort to online play.
When winnings arrive without lonng delays, players
enjoy a more relaxed rhythm. Transparent payment rules and easy account fewtures keep everything easy to manage.
A casino welcome offer can make the first visit more
enjoyable. Withh addeed value on the account, users can enjoy longer and more flexible sessions.
Such a bonus can add more comfort to the experience. Simple
activation steps also krep the experience smooth. Alongside pracical account
tools, the overall atmosphere stays well organized.
A gaming platform focused on quick withdrawals caan make every session feel smoother.
If funds become avqilable in a short time, players enjoy a more relaxed rhythm.
Clwar payolut terms and modern transacion tools keep everything efficient.
A casino welcomke bonus can create a stronger start.
By giving players extra balance support, users caan try
more game options. This kind off offer often feels attractive.
Simple activation steps also keep the experience
smooth. Combined with a user-friendly layout, the overall atmosphere stays
comfortable.
A fastest payout online casino can make every session feel smoother.
If funds become available in a short time, players gain a better
sense of control. Clear payout terms and secure payment systems
keep everything efficient.
A casino welcome offer can make the first visit more enjoyable.
Through a useful bonus at the beginning, usefs can enjoy longer and more flexible sessions.
That extra support caan make the platfrm
feel more rewarding. Easy-to-read promotional details
also kep the experience smooth. Combined with a user-friendly layout, the
overall atmosphere stays positive.
An online casino with very fast payouts can make every session feel smoother.
If funds become available in a short time, pplayers feel more satisfied.
Transparent payment rules and easy account features keep everything easy
to manage.
A welcome bonus at an online casino can improve the opening experience.
With added value on the account, users can enjoy lpnger and more flexible sessions.
That extra support ccan make the platform feel more rewarding.
Clear bons tsrms also help everything feel straightforward.
Together with intuitive navigation, the overall atmosphere stays positive.
Казино сайт, известен с бързи плащания
може да направи всяка сесия по-приятна.
Когато тегленията се обработват за кратко време, играчите получават повече удовлетворение.
Прости стъпки при теглене и удобни платежни решения правят всичко по-гладко.
Die Wahl einer Spielplattform mit sehr zügigen Auszahlungen kann das gesamte Spielerlewbnis deutlich
verbessern. Sobald Auszahlungen in kurzer Zeit bearbeitet sind, fühlt sich ales
entspannter an. Besonders wichtig sinmd oft verständliche Hinweise und siochere Zahlungsmethoden. In Verbindung mit einer benutzerfreundlichen Oberfläche wirkt alles
flüssig und besonders praktisch.
Entrar en un casino online con dinero real puede volver el entretenimienro digital más atractivo.
Numerosos jugadores aprecian transacciones prácticas, junto con condiciones
transparentes. Por otra parte, una navegación fluida ayuda a
disfrutar más. Así, la experienciia se vuelve agradable y bien organizada.
Un casin ojline con depósito mínimo ofrece una forma
más flexible de jugar. Con una cantidad pequeña para iniciar, los usuarios disfrutan de
una experiencia más equilibrada. Igualmente, la información transparente hacen todo más agradable.
Probar una plataforma de juego con dinero eal puede aportar
más emoción a cada sesión. Mucho usuarios
valoran herramientas cómodas para manejar su cuenta, junto
con reglas claras. Además, un entorno fácil de usar hace todo más cómodo.
De este modo, la experiencia sse vuelve agradable y más satisfactoria.
Choosing an online casino with a loow deposit enfry can create a mmore flexible beginning.
With less money neweded at the beginning, users can explore the
platform at a relaxed pace. Clear paymejt details and
user-friendly navigation keep everything easy to
manage.
A casino with instant withdrawals can make the overall experience feel
far more convenient. Instead oof waiting through long processing periods, playerrs can access winnings in a shorteer time.
That efficient payment rhythm often improves satisfaction. In addition, easy-to-follow
payout steps and secure transaction systems keesp everything pleasant and easy to manage.
Platforma do grry z błyskawiczną wypłatą może nadać grze większą
płynność i swobodę. Bez konieczności mierzenia się z niepotrzebnymi
opóźnieniami, gracze mogą cieszyć się sprawniejszym przepływem środków.
Ten wygodny mode działania zwiększa satysfakcję. Dodatkowo, jasne zasady wypłat oraz intuicyjna obsługa konta sprawiają, że wszystko jest wygodne i komfortowe w użyciu.
Platforma doo gry z niską wpłatą początkową
może ułatwić rozpoczęcie gry. Z małą wpłatą
startową użytkownik może grać we własnym tempie.
Dodatkowo przejrzyse informacje o koncie sprawiają, że
wszystko jest czytelne i dobrze zorganizowane.
An online casino designed for smaller first payments can create an easier
entry into online play. By allowing plaers to join with a modest payment, users can enjoy a more balanced experience.
Clear payment details keep everything smooth.
Trying an online casino buil for immediate withdrawals can make
the entire experience feel more convenient. Without having to spend too much time on cashput processing,
players can receive winnings inn a shortr time. Many
users appreciate cllear withdrawal terms and modern transaction solutions.
As a result, there is a well-organized experience.
Choosing a platform known for very quick withdrawals can maje the overalll
experience feel more comfortable. Rather than waitfing too much
time for funds, users can enjoy a quicker cashout process.
Maany players alzo appreciate easy-to-follow ayment rules.
Combined with modern payment systems, everything feels
pleasant.
Entering ann online casino for real money can bring extra excitement
to every session. By using a platform with convenient payment features, players can handle their activity with ease.
A lot of players value clear rules, simple platform structure,
and differennt wats to play. As a result, there is a positive atmosphere throughout thhe experience.
An online casino with a minimum deposit can create an easier entry ino online play.
By allowing players to join wifh a modest payment, users can managee their budget more easily.
Easy account information keep everything smooth.
Choosing a platform that offers instant cashouts can add a smoother rhythm to every session. Instead of waiting through long payout periods, players can access their funds faster.
A lot oof players value easy-to-follow payout steps and modern transaction solutions.
That supports a possitive experience.
Choosiing a platform known for very quick withdrawals can add
a smoother rhythm to every session. Rather than waiting too
much time for funds, users can access their balance sooner.
Many players also appreciate clear payout terms.
Combbined with modern payment systems, everything feeels easy to manage.
Using a platform built for real money gaming can make digital entertainment feel more dynamic.
Thanks to smooth balance management, playyers can enjoy a mofe omfortable flow.
Modern audiences often look for easy-to-read conditions, user-friendly navigation, and different way to play.
That overall setup creates a pleasant atnosphere
throughout the experience.
A gaming platform with a loww starting deposit can make
thee beginning feel more comfortable. Thanks to a lower deposit option, users
can enjoy a more balanced experience. Eaasy account information keep everything easy
to follow.
Trying an online casino built for immediate withdrawals
can create a more comfortable way to play. Instead of waiting through long payout periods, players can enjoy quicker control over theirr balance.
Many uers appreciate clear withdrawal terms and secure payment systems.
As a result, there is a positive experience.
Choosing a platform known for very quick withdrawals can improve the way players
enjoy online gaming. Rather than waiting too much time for funds,
users can accerss their balance sooner. A lot of userfs value easy-to-follow payment rules.
Alongside user-friendly account features, everything feels efficient.
Entering an online casino for real money can make digital entertainment feel more dynamic.
By using a platform wuth convenient payment features, players
can handle their activity with ease. Modern audiences often lolk for clear rules, simple platform structure, and varied
entertainment options. That overall settup creates a well-balanced atmosphere throughout the experience.
A gaming platform with a low starting deposit can make thhe
beginning feel more comfortable. Thanks to a lower deposit option, users can manage their budget more easily.
Simple deposit steps keep everything easy to follow.
Using an online casino with instant withdrawwal caan make the entire experience feel more convenient.Without having to spend
too much time on cashout processing, players can enjoy quicker control over their balance.
Many users apprrciate simple account tools and modern transaction solutions.
As a result, thedre is a pleasant experience.
Chosing a platform known for very quick withdrawals can add
a smoother rhythm to every session. Instead of deaaling with long payout delays, users can access tbeir balance sooner.
A lot of users value clear payout terms. Alongside user-friendly account features,
everything feels pleasant.
Using a playform built for real money gaming
can make digital entertainment feel more dynamic. Thanks to smooth balance management,
players can keep every strep simple to follow. A lot of players value clear rules, simple platform structure, and differtent ways to play.
Thhis combination helps build a positive atmosphere throughout the experience.
A gaming platform with a loww starting deposit
can create an easier entry into online play.Thanks to a lwer deposit option, users
can explore thee platform at a relaxed pace. Easy account information keep everything pleasant.
Using an online casino with instant withdrawal can create a more
comfortable way to play. Rather than dealing
with unneceessary withdrawal delays, players
can enjoy quickesr contrfol over their balance. A llot of plpayers
value easy-to-follow paayout steps and secure
payment systems. That supplorts a positive experience.
Exploring an online casino with reall cash play caan make digityal entertainment feel more
dynamic. Thanks to smooth balance management, players can keep every step simple to follow.
A lot of players value clear rules, comfortable account
access, and different ways to play. As a result, there is a well-balanced atmospher throughout
the experience.
Using a platform built for real money gaming can make digital
entertainment feel more dynamic. Thanks to smooth balance management, players can handlee their activity with ease.
A lot of players value clear rules, simple platform structure, and different ways to play.
That overall setup crestes a pleasant atmosphere throughout the experience.
An online casino designed forr smaller first payments can offer a
flexible way to get started. Thanks tto a lower deposit option, users can maanage their budget more
easily. Easy account information keep everything easy to follow.
Trying an online casino built for immediate withdrawals can create a more
comfortable way tto play. Without having to spend too much time on cashout processing,
players ccan access their funds faster. Modern audiences often look for
easy-to-follow payout steps and modern trannsaction solutions.
This help create a well-organized experience.
Choosing a platform known for very quiick withdrawals cann improve the way plyers enjoy online gaming.
Instead of dealing with long payout delays, users can enjjoy a quicker cashout process.
Modern audiences often look foor easy-to-follow payment rules.
Alongside user-friendly account features,everything feels pleasant.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Trying an online casino welcome bonus can make thee first experience feel more exciting.
With added support on the balance, users can enjoy a wider range of entertainment.
Modern audiences often like clear promotional terms. When paired with intuitive navigation,
everything feels comfortable and positive from the start.
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks! https://accounts.binance.com/zh-TC/register?ref=DCKLL1YD