Is there a place for feminist translation in the contemporary literary landscape? In the English-speaking world, there is considerable interest in literature by women in other countries, supported by initiatives such as the #womenintranslation project. But does all literature by women merit a feminist approach to translation? And what would a feminist approach to translation look like in practice?
The Feminist Translation Network (FTN) is open to anyone who is curious about feminist translation practice. We hope to reach out to a wide range of readers and literature-lovers as well as writers, translators, educators, and researchers. We welcome people of all genders, and those who identify as feminists as well as those who question the label ‘feminist’. We are interested in issues such as: What is feminist translation? (how does it differ – or not – from translations by women/of women, or from queer translation/gender-inclusive translation?) Is feminist translation a matter of identity or a matter of practice? What makes a translation feminist? Can we teach feminist translation? What are the goals of feminist translation and whom is it for? Our focus in this funding phase is contemporary literary translation in English – but we are interested in broadening the scope of the FTN in future to encompass areas such as legal translation or religious translation and to include other languages.
Over 2024 and 2025, we will gather to discuss these questions at a series of free public events, held in person (and partially online) in Birmingham, Oxford, and Norwich. A translation ‘slam’ will be the centre of each event: a pair of professional translators will present their different versions of the same source text and explore with the audience how their creative practice generates new insights into feminist translation. Even if you can’t join us for the events, please do have a browse of the website as we’ll be adding updates and resources as the project develops.
Funding
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, funds internationally outstanding research across all arts and humanities. This includes research which supports important UK economic sectors such as the creative and digital industries, creative practice and arts in all its forms. Our research also explores complex social and cultural issues that underpin our understanding of our interaction with society, ourselves and the natural world. AHRC invest in research which places humanity at the heart of today’s biggest questions and their answers. Visit the AHRC website at: ahrc.ukri.org, on Twitter at @ahrcpress, and on Facebook search for the Arts and Humanities Research Council, or Instagram at @ahrcpress.