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Accessibility Links Susie Dent’s favourite foreign words and untranslatable gems revealed Kalsarikännit, the Finnish description for getting drunk in your underwear, is among a host of foreign terms with no English Dictionary equivalent Lucy Bannerman Thursday March 02 2023, 5.55pm GMT, The Times - "There are an estimated 171,146 words currently in use in the English language, and, astonishingly perhaps, not a single one of them means “sitting at home getting drunk in your pants”. The Finns know better. Kalsarikännit — loosely translated as staying in and getting drunk in your underwear — is just one of the many wonderful foreign words that have no direct equivalent in the English language. Ever tried to make something better but accidentally made it worse? The Germans have a word for it, obviously: verschlimmbessern. Susie Dent, the Countdown star and lexicographer, has her own favourite foreign words that are unique to their cultures REX FEATURES If you’re in the habit of buying new books while a pile of unread tomes gather dust at home, the Japanese have a word for that too: tsundoku. Arabic, meanwhile, has a word, soubhiyé, to describe
"May 14, 2025 | 4:00PM
Franke Institute for the Humanities
A Taytsh Manifesto calls for a translational paradigm for Yiddish studies and for the study of modern Jewish culture. Saul Noam Zaritt calls for a shift in vocabulary, from Yiddish to taytsh, in order to promote reading strategies that account for the ways texts named as Jewish move between languages and cultures.
Yiddish, a moniker that became dominant only in the early twentieth century, means “Jewish” and thus marks the language with a single identity: of and for a Jewish collective. In contrast, this book calls attention to an earlier and, at one time, more common name for the language: taytsh, which initially means “German.” By using the term taytsh, speakers indicated that they were indeed speaking a Germanic language, a language that was not entirely their own. In time, when the word shifted to a verb, taytshn, it came to mean the act of translation. To write or speak in Yiddish is thus to render into taytsh and inhabit the gap between languages.
A Taytsh Manifesto highlights the cultural porousness that inheres in taytsh and deploys the term as a paradigm that can be applied to a host of modern Jewish cultural formations. The book reads three corpora in modern Yiddish culture through the lens of translation: Yiddish pulp fiction, also known as shund (trash); the genre of the Yiddish monologue as authored by Sholem Aleichem and other prominent Yiddish writers; and the persistence of Yiddish as a language of vulgarity in contemporary U.S. culture. Together these examples help revise current histories of Yiddish while demonstrating the need for new vocabularies to account for the multidirectionality of Jewish culture. A Taytsh Manifesto develops a model for identifying, in Yiddish and beyond, how cultures intertwine, how they become implicated in world systems and empire, and how they might escape such limiting and oppressive structures.
Prof. Zarritt will be in conversation with Ania Aizman, assistant professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Chicago. The event is sponsored by the Department of Germanic Studies, the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, the Department of Comparative Literature, and the Greenberg Center for Jewish Studies.
Comparative Literature
Division of the Arts & Humanities
Department of Comparative Literature
1115 East 58th Street Suite 309
Chicago, IL 60637"
https://complit.uchicago.edu/saul-zaritt-taytsh-manifesto-yiddish-translation-and-making-modern-jewish-culture
#metaglossia_mundus
"Las lenguas indígenas son fuentes de conocimiento ambiental
Los pueblos que viven cerca de la naturaleza tienen una rica tradición que integra a las plantas, los animales y los paisajes en sus lenguas maternas —y puede que tengan pistas vitales para proteger la biodiversidad Foto de Anastasiia Nelen de Unsplash. Se suele decir que el lenguaje es una ventana a la mente humana. David Harrison lo experimentó de primera mano cuando era un joven lingüista en los años noventa y viajó a la república rusa de Tuvá para pasar un año con un grupo de pastores nómadas. Durante el tiempo que pasó con los tuvanos fue testigo de la estrecha relación entre estos indígenas y los animales, la naturaleza y los paisajes con los que coexisten. Esa conexión está profundamente arraigada no solo en la cultura tuvana, sino también en su idioma, desde su rico vocabulario para describir su ganado y el mundo que los rodea; hasta su propio sonido, que puede imitar fielmente los ruidos del entorno.
CRÉDITO: JAMES PROVOST (CC BY-ND) Lingüista ambiental David Harrison
Desde entonces, Harrison ha estudiado lenguas indígenas en otras partes del mundo —desde el archipiélago Vanuatu, ubicado en el Pacífico, hasta las tierras altas de Vietnam— y aprendió que muchas de ellas se centran de Foto de Anastasiia Nelen en Unsplash
esta manera en la naturaleza, lo que refleja milenios de profunda observación del mundo natural. Los académicos reconocen cada vez más que muchas de estas lenguas codifican mucho conocimiento sobre las especies y ecosistemas del planeta que la ciencia occidental desconoce —conocimiento, sostiene Harrison, que puede resultar fundamental para proteger la naturaleza en medio de una crisis de extinción global—. Harrison señala que las Naciones Unidas y otros organismos han reconocido desde hace mucho tiempo que las comunidades indígenas suelen ser mejores guardianas de la biodiversidad que otras personas menos apegadas a la naturaleza. “Si estamos dispuestos a ser lo suficientemente humildes como para aprender de los pueblos indígenas”, dice Harrison, “lo que saben podría ayudar a salvar el planeta”. Trabajar con comunidades indígenas para comprender el conocimiento ambiental incorporado en sus idiomas es el objetivo de la “lingüística ambiental”, una línea de investigación que Harrison describe en un artículo de 2023 en el Annual Review of Linguistics. Esta tarea es urgente, porque muchas de las miles de lenguas indígenas del planeta están amenazadas y corren riesgo de ser reemplazadas por otras más comúnmente habladas. Harrison, que enseña en la VinUniversity en Hanoi, Vietnam, habló con Knowable Magazine sobre sus estudios del idioma tuvano y lo que podemos aprender de las lenguas centradas en la naturaleza. Esta entrevista ha sido editada para lograr más claridad. En términos generales, ¿qué hace que una lengua esté centrada en la naturaleza?Cada idioma está conectado con la naturaleza. Pero si las personas que hablan el idioma se alejan del mundo natural, ese conocimiento se atrofia. En inglés solíamos usar muchos términos para referirnos animales que ya no usamos. Ahora simplemente decimos “caballo bebé” (baby horse) porque no recordamos la diferencia entre una potranca (filly) y un potrillo (colt). No obstante, el tuvano —hablado por los nómadas siberianos— está especialmente centrado en la naturaleza, porque la mayoría de los integrantes de ese pueblo aún dependen mucho de sus animales y del entorno. Viven en plena Siberia, uno de los ambientes más duros de la Tierra, por lo que para ellos no es un lujo ni un hobby estar interesados en la naturaleza; es una habilidad de supervivencia. El clima está cambiando y nuestros periodistas están aquí para ayudarte a comprender lo que está pasando. ¡Suscríbete a nuestro boletín informativo y nunca te pierdas una historia! Los tuvanos también creen que el entorno es sensible —que tiene albedrío y ejerce influencia sobre sus vidas y su ganado—. Hacen ofrendas frecuentes a los espíritus y construyen mojones de piedra —llamados ovaa—, para apaciguar a los espíritus que creen que residen en el paisaje. Tienen cuidado de respetar el entorno evitando tirar basura, manteniendo limpios los sitios estacionales de campamento y ofreciendo leche y alimentos en determinados lugares consagrados. Todas esas cosas hacen que su lenguaje se centre en la naturaleza. Los tuvanos, como esta familia de Mongolia que cuida a sus cabras, tienen relaciones profundas con su ganado. (CRÉDITO: KELLY RICHARDSON) Cuénteme más sobre tu estadía en Tuvá. ¿Qué le sorprendió de la cultura y del idioma tuvano?Aunque los tuvanos tienen un sistema de escritura, siguen siendo una sociedad principalmente oral. Yo tenía mis propios prejuicios sobre eso. Si creces en una sociedad alfabetizada, automáticamente crees que la alfabetización es un estado superior de desarrollo humano, y que las personas analfabetas tienen alguna deficiencia. Esto nos da un considerable punto ciego respecto de las ventajas cognitivas de una sociedad oral en su capacidad para transmitir grandes cantidades de información sin escribir. Es como levantar pesas para el cerebro. El narrador tuvano Šojdak-ool Xovalyg sabe leer y escribir tanto en tuvano como en ruso, pero se basó exclusivamente en la tradición oral cuando memorizó 10.000 líneas de un cuento épico sobre una heroína. Se trata de una niña chamana que tiene habilidades mágicas para cambiar de forma y que emprende una búsqueda para revivir a su hermano fallecido, guiada por su sabio caballo parlante. Para completar la misión debe ganar concursos de arquería, carreras a pie y lucha libre. Para nosotros que vivimos en sociedades alfabetizadas, nuestras capacidades (de memorizar texto) se han atrofiado tanto que lo que hizo parece magia. Personalmente, apenas soy capaz de memorizar un número de teléfono. Los tuvanos tienen un precioso dicho, ugaanga tönchü chok, que significa “la mente no tiene fin”. Literalmente, creen que la mente es infinita y lo demuestran a través de su capacidad de memoria. Cada conversación que sostuvimos se volcaba a sus preocupaciones ambientales porque esa es su vida y su sustento. Los tuvanos están muy en sintonía con el ambiente, exploran constantemente el horizonte y monitorean el clima y los sonidos de sus animales. Cosas muy sutiles, que quizás yo no noté, son importantes para ellos. Yo podía mirar dos cabras, y ambas me parecían a mí como dos cabras marrones. Pero para mi familia anfitriona había una diferencia sutil en el color o patrón que yo no podía ver, y esa diferencia tenía una etiqueta distinta en su idioma. Si tienes una etiqueta que te permite distinguir cabras individuales de un rebaño de 200, eso es una tecnología de supervivencia. Fue revelador saber que el lenguaje se puede conectar con el ambiente de formas que nunca antes había experimentado. ¿Esta visión del mundo centrada en la naturaleza solo se refleja en el vocabulario, o hay otras formas en que el idioma tuvano codifica el conocimiento ambiental?También está integrado en la gramática. Por ejemplo, la forma preferida de decir “ir” en tuvano se refiere a la dirección de la corriente del río más cercano y su trayectoria relativa a esa corriente. Realizan un seguimiento de esa información mientras se mueven por el entorno. Una vez recibí a un amigo tuvano en Manhattan y me preguntó “¿dónde está el río?”. Entonces, lo llevé al lado oeste de Manhattan y le mostré uno de los ríos. Y tomó nota de ello para poder utilizar correctamente los verbos topográficos tuvanos en la ciudad de Nueva York. De hecho, puedes encontrar conocimiento ambiental en todos los niveles de la estructura del lenguaje. Por ejemplo, los tuvanos tienen una capacidad muy desarrollada para imitar la acústica natural que les rodea utilizando su tracto vocal. Esta es la base de su mundialmente famoso arte, el canto de garganta. A través de su canción transmiten conocimientos sobre el ambiente incluso a nivel de sonidos. Al imitar los sonidos ambientales, ellos, desde su perspectiva, se están comunicando con los espíritus que habitan el ambiente. Pero también lo utilizan para inducir estados psicológicos favorables en sus animales domésticos en diferentes escenarios. Si una camella no quiere amamantar a su cría, tienen una canción que ayudará al animal a alcanzar un estado en el que estará dispuesto a hacerlo. ¿Cómo fue aprender un idioma centrado en la naturaleza como el tuvano? ¿Eso cambió su visión sobre nuestra relación con la naturaleza?Para ser honesto, al principio no estaba muy interesado en el mundo natural. Pero si la mayoría de las conversaciones que ocurren a tu alrededor tienen que ver con el ambiente, empiezas a preocuparte por eso. Por ejemplo, los tuvanos tienen una palabra, ий, que se pronuncia “ee”, que significa “el lado corto de una colina”. Es un concepto muy importante, porque querrás evitar la ladera empinada de la colina si caminas, montas a caballo o pastoreas tu rebaño de cabras. Una vez que aprendí el nombre para ello comencé a buscarlo. Pero hasta que el lenguaje te ofrezca este concepto, simplemente no te darás cuenta. Aprender estos conceptos centrados en la naturaleza en el idioma te hace ver el ambiente de manera diferente. ¿Cómo influye esta visión del mundo centrada en la naturaleza en la vida cotidiana de las personas de Tuvá?Lo que los pueblos indígenas tienen en sus lenguas es un programa de sostenibilidad. Los tuvanos tienen límites y fronteras en cuanto al uso adecuado del ambiente —por ejemplo, en cuanto a cómo se pueden cazar o sacrificar los animales, y cuándo; qué plantas se pueden recolectar, cuándo y dónde; cómo mostrar respeto por los animales que cazan; así como muchas convenciones sobre cómo tratar a los animales domesticados—. Creen en no tomar más de lo que necesitan. Estos conocimientos y normas de comportamiento están codificados en el idioma tuvano a través de verbos, sustantivos, frases, aforismos, canciones y dichos sabios. Si un tuvano dice “Deberías limpiar el campamento estacional sagrado”, eso carece de sentido cuando se traduce otro idioma, porque no tenemos un concepto para tal cosa. Pero la palabra tuvana para eso, xonash, evoca una respuesta profundamente emocional y sentimental para quienes hablan tuvano, que son inmediatamente conscientes de toda una gama de creencias y comportamientos que derivan de ese concepto. La sostenibilidad está integrada en su lenguaje y visión del mundo. ¿Qué ha aprendido de otras lenguas indígenas en términos de cómo codifican el conocimiento ambiental?Están absolutamente saturados de conocimiento ambiental. Mi trabajo reciente ha sido en Vanuatu, nación insular del Pacífico Sur, donde estoy estudiando calendarios ecológicos, que son sistemas lingüísticos utilizados para hacer un seguimiento de la época del año. Se basan en ciclos naturales, como la floración o fructificación de ciertas plantas, o la aparición de determinadas aves, insectos o patrones climáticos. Los melanesios, que son indígenas de Oceanía, han estado observando estos patrones durante tanto tiempo que son completamente confiables como método de medición del tiempo. Y aquí en Vietnam estoy trabajando con la minoría étnica Bahnar. Todas las manualidades que producen —ya sea elaboración de canastas, arquitectura, canoas, textiles— también son indicadores ambientales. Una canasta en particular en la que estoy pensando está hecha de cuatro plantas diferentes, pero una de esas plantas se ha vuelto escasa recientemente debido a la deforestación y al cambio climático, por lo que la tienen que sustituir con plástico. Entonces, si observas la canasta y el vocabulario usado para hablar de ella, está contando una historia sobre el estado actual del ambiente. ¿Qué podemos aprender del tipo de conocimiento ambiental arraigado en las lenguas indígenas?Lo que los pueblos indígenas saben sobre sus entornos naturales supera con creces lo que saben los científicos occidentales, y se expresa de manera única en sus idiomas. La mayoría de las especies de plantas del mundo, por ejemplo, aún no han sido clasificadas dentro del sistema taxonómico del marco científico occidental. Pero si hablas con la gente local tienden a conocer todas las plantas y animales de su entorno. Recuerdo haber conocido a un hombre llamado Reuben Neriam en Vanuatu. Pasé más de una semana trabajando con él y un equipo de botánicos del Jardín Botánico de Nueva York, observando fotos y especímenes de plantas. Él pudo nombrar más de 2.000 plantas, lo cual es asombroso. Y no solo nombró las plantas, si no que habló sobre dónde y cuándo crecen, cuándo se deben cosechar, cómo se procesan y qué propiedades medicinales y nutricionales tienen. Existe una inmensa base de conocimientos que de verdad no se aprecia ni es conocida para la ciencia occidental. ¿Cómo se puede utilizar este conocimiento para ayudar a proteger la biodiversidad?Para proteger la biodiversidad, primero tenemos que saber cuánta biodiversidad existe y dónde existe. Hay bastantes artículos científicos recientes que debaten esta pregunta de cómo se mide la biodiversidad. Los pueblos indígenas están mucho más cerca que nosotros de conocer la riqueza de las diferentes especies en sus ambientes, cómo utilizarlas como alimento o medicina y cómo interactúan y se comportan. Por ejemplo, hay un artículo de 2016 de David Fleck y Robert Voss que muestra que muchos de los datos que conocen los matses de la Amazonía sobre el comportamiento de los armadillos son desconocidos para los científicos occidentales. Este tipo de conocimiento puede ayudarnos a aprender sobre la biodiversidad. Tenemos que superar nuestro prejuicio de que la ciencia occidental es superior a las formas de pensar indígenas. ¿Ve alguna señal de que la ciencia occidental en general esté comenzando a reconocer el conocimiento ambiental que tienen las comunidades indígenas?Existen campos como la etnobotánica, que está enteramente dedicada al conocimiento indígena. Yo diría que la lingüística está avanzando en esa dirección. Pero desafortunadamente, en algunas áreas de la ciencia todavía existe este paradigma colonial y de falso descubrimiento. Por ejemplo, en 2023, el Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza anunció los hallazgos de cientos de nuevas especies aquí en Vietnam. Lo que no hicieron fue preguntar a los indígenas locales “¿cómo se llama este animal?” Los lugareños no solo les habrían dicho el nombre, sino también contado historias y leyendas sobre el animal, por qué es importante y cuál es su ciclo de vida. Pero ya sabes, todos podemos llegar a eso. Solo necesitamos respetar a los pueblos indígenas y tratarlos como nuestros iguales y maestros de la biodiversidad. Y estamos en un momento crítico de la historia. Necesitamos hacerlo ahora antes de que perdamos la biodiversidad que la gente conoce. De las cerca de 7.000 lenguas identificadas, casi la mitad se considera en peligro de extinción. ¿Qué se puede hacer para preservarlas y para proteger el conocimiento cultural y ambiental que contienen muchas de ellas?Las lenguas indígenas están bajo una enorme presión por parte de lenguas globales como el inglés y el chino, o por el abandono u opresión total de las comunidades indígenas. Y el conocimiento ambiental que contienen no se traduce fácilmente a otros idiomas, por lo que gran parte definitivamente se perdería si el idioma dejara de hablarse, incluso si estuviera documentado. Por lo tanto, hay muchos esfuerzos diferentes en marcha, incluido la documentación de idiomas y su revitalización. Armé una plataforma en línea llamada Talking Dictionaries (diccionarios hablantes), que conserva el conocimiento indígena sobre el ambiente a través de palabras, traducciones, grabaciones de audio y fotos de especies, y está alojada en Swarthmore College. Por ejemplo, el Talking Dictionary para el Aneityum, idioma hablado en la isla más meridional de Vanuatu, contiene gran parte de la experiencia botánica de Reuben. Hemos creado más de 200 de esos diccionarios hablantes y son propiedad intelectual de las comunidades. Más recientemente, en mi trabajo actual aquí en Vietnam, estoy ayudando a crear el Centro de Inteligencia Ambiental de la VinUniversity, que incluye muchas disciplinas sobre el desarrollo ambientalmente sostenible, incluida mi investigación antropológica en lingüística ambiental. Fundamentalmente, involucra a expertos indígenas como socios iguales y custodios del conocimiento sobre la biodiversidad. Por ejemplo, con los expertos Bahnar y otros con los que estoy trabajando deciden qué conocimiento registrar y compartir y son nombrados coautores del Bahnar Talking Dictionary y de los artículos revisados por pares que publicamos. Son contratados como consultores expertos remunerados por mi proyecto y por el centro, y además les proporcionamos formación y tecnología para que puedan realizar proyectos independientes. Al tratarlos como iguales, y no como sujetos de investigación, podemos elevar su cultura y conocimiento y contribuir a su supervivencia." Artículo traducido por Daniela Hirschfeld. Fue publicado originalmente en Knowable Magazine. #metaglossia_mundus
"Un nouveau site pour les langues à l’ONU
2025-04-30
Imaginez un espace où tout ce dont vous avez besoin est organisé, facile à trouver en quelques clics.
Découvrez désormais le nouveau site Web des langues de l’ONU, votre ressource d’apprentissage incontournable pour communiquer efficacement dans les six langues officielles de l’ONU.
Développée par le Service du renforcement des capacités et de la formation opérationnelle (CDOTS), la nouvelle plateforme est destinée aux apprenants et aux enseignants de langues, aux gestionnaires de l'apprentissage et à toute personne impliquée ou intéressée par le multilinguisme.
Rejoignez cette communauté grandissante d’utilisateurs pour :
Découvrir les normes linguistiques et les outils d’évaluation pour évaluer votre niveau ONU ;
Explorer des cours et des ateliers allant de l’acquisition générale d’une langue aux compétences de communication spécialisées ;
Accéder à des options d’apprentissage en ligne flexibles adaptées à vos besoins ;
Trouver des supports d’auto-apprentissage et des ressources supplémentaires alignés sur les thèmes prioritaires de l’ONU, notamment les ODD et les stratégies de communication incluant la langue ;
Découvrir des solutions de formation personnalisées dans les six langues officielles de l’ONU pour les équipes et les départements de l’ensemble du système des Nations Unies ;
Rester informé des activités et des événements, notamment des Journées des langues, des programmes d’immersion et d’autres initiatives de multilinguisme.
Le nouveau site Web des langues de l’ONU va au-delà de l’offre d’outils linguistiques : il renforce la vision de l’ONU 2.0, en créant un espace d’apprentissage mondial unique, essentiel pour les fonctionnaires internationaux qui naviguent sur le lieu de travail du XXIe siècle.
Conçu avec l’accessibilité comme priorité, le site garantit un environnement d’apprentissage inclusif, avec des éléments de conception qui soutiennent les personnes handicapées.
En connectant le personnel, les gestionnaires et les affiliés de l’ONU dans le monde entier, la plateforme garantit la cohérence, la qualité et l’accessibilité des initiatives de formation linguistique et de renforcement des capacités au siège de l’ONU et dans les missions sur le terrain.
Visitez dès aujourd'hui le nouveau site web des langues de l'ONU et contribuez à bâtir une Organisation des Nations Unies plus connectée et multilingue. Les langues ouvrent des portes ; commencez à explorer dès aujourd'hui !
Le Service du renforcement des capacités et de la formation opérationnelle (CDOTS) dépend du Département de l’appui opérationnel (DOS).
Suivez DOS sur iSeek et sur notre site"
https://www.un.org/ar/node/229636
#metaglossia_mundus
Fortunato Israël, Repenser la traduction littéraire. Essais critiques
- Paris, Les Belles Lettres, 2024
- EAN : 9782251456270
- 294 pages
- Prix : 26 EUR
- Date de publication : 02 Mai 2025
- Publié le 02 Mai 2025 par Marc Escola
Édition établie par Jean-Yves Masson et Freddie Plassard. Préface de Jean-René Ladmiral. Alors que la Théorie Interprétative de la Traduction fondée par Danica Seleskovitch et Marianne Lederer a d’abord été élaborée en vue de la formation des interprètes, dont le travail vise avant tout à l’efficacité pratique, l’apport de Fortunato Israël, angliciste de formation et auteur d’une thèse sur les traductions françaises de Shakespeare, a consisté à élaborer des concepts et des procédures prouvant que cette théorie reste pertinente en matière de traduction littéraire.
En littérature, la forme revêt une importance primordiale : une oeuvre ne saurait se réduire à la transmission d’un message. Avoir à tenir compte de l’union étroite de la forme et du sens oblige donc le traducteur à prendre des risques et à faire preuve de créativité. Selon quelles démarches, quelles règles et dans quelles conditions ? C’est ce qu’expose ce livre dont l’auteur, opérant un choix dans ses nombreux travaux, avait arrêté le plan peu avant sa disparition. Les concepts qu’il élabore ici sont au coeur de la traductologie moderne et de l’enseignement de la traduction. Lire un extrait… — Fortunato Israël (1939-2023), traducteur littéraire, professeur à l’université Sorbonne-Nouvelle (Paris III), a dirigé l’École Supérieure d’Interprètes et de Traducteurs (ÉSIT) de 1999 à 2007. On lui doit notamment la découverte en France de l’oeuvre du romancier américain Jason Goodwin, et la traduction du chef-d’oeuvre de Jerzy Kosinski, L’Ermite de la 69e rue. Jean-Yves Masson, né en 1962, écrivain, critique et traducteur, enseigne la littérature comparée à l'université Paris-Sorbonne. On lui doit une trentaine de traductions de l’anglais, de l’allemand et de l’italien. Il a consacré de nombreuses études à la poésie et au théâtre modernes et contemporains. Il est le promoteur, avec Yves Chevrel, d’une Histoire des traductions en langue française en cours de publication aux éditions Verdier. Avec Jean-René Ladmiral, il anime depuis plusieurs années à la Sorbonne un séminaire consacré à l’histoire et à la théorie de la traduction. Jean-René Ladmiral, né en 1942, germaniste, traducteur et philosophe, a enseigné à l'Université Paris X Nanterre et à l’Université de Genève et est aujourd’hui professeur à l’ISIT (Institut de management et de communication interculturels de Paris). Traducteur de Kant, de Jürgen Habermas, d’Adorno, il est notamment l’auteur de Traduire : théorèmes pour la traduction (Gallimard, coll. Tel), et d’un très grand nombre d’articles de référence qui font de lui l’un des fondateurs de la traductologie. — Sommaire Préface de Jean-René Ladmiral
PREMIÈRE PARTIE
LE SENS : DESSUS-DESSOUS
Chapitre I. Souvent sens varie : le traducteurface à « l’instabilité » du sens
Chapitre II. Sens, forme, effet : pour une approche communicative de la traduction littéraire
Chapitre III. Shakespeare en français : être ou ne pas être ?
Chapitre IV. La trace du lien en traduction
Chapitre V. Lost In Translation : La notion de déficit en traduction
DEUXIÈME PARTIE
LA DISSIMILATION DES IDIOMES : L’ABANDON DU LOGOS INITIAL
Chapitre VI. Quid de la déverbalisation en traduction littéraire ?
Chapitre VII. Traduction littéraire et théorie du sens
Chapitre VIII. La notion d’intraduisibilité : mythe ou réalité ?
Chapitre IX. Limites du transfert culturel en traduction
TROISIÈME PARTIE
DIRE AUTREMENT : LA RENAISSANCE DU TEXTE
Chapitre X. Pour une nouvelle conception de la traduction littéraire : le modèle interprétatif
Chapitre XI. Traduction littéraire : l’appropriation du texte
Chapitre XII. La plénitude du texte
Chapitre XIII. La créativité en traduction ou le texte réinventé
Chapitre XIV. Le traitement de la forme en traduction
Chapitre XV. Traduction littéraire : quels paramètres pour quelle évaluation ?
Chapitre XVI. Voltaire, traducteur de Shakespeare
Chapitre XVII. Pourquoi il faut retraduire les textes littéraires : le cas Shakespeare en France
Appendice. Une théorie en mouvement : bilan (provisoire) des acquis de la Théorie Interprétative de la Traduction
RÉFÉRENCES BIBLIOGRAPHIQUES https://www.fabula.org/actualites/127411/fortunato-israel-repenser-la-traduction-litteraire-essais-critiques.html #metaglossia_mundus
"Across the U.S., court interpreters are in high demand, and finding one can be hard when needed. It's forcing judges to delay hearings and sometimes makes people wait longer in jail before trial.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Court interpreters are there to make sure everyone involved in legal proceedings can understand what's going on. But finding interpreters can be hard. There's a lot of demand across the country, and officials say the need is growing. Sarah Lehr of Wisconsin Public Radio reports.
SARAH LEHR, BYLINE: When Reme Bashi first started as a court interpreter in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, she wore high heels to the courthouse.
REME BASHI: Then I went to flats. Now I'm in the sneaker phase.
LEHR: On a recent Friday, Bashi put those sneakers to work as she walked from hearing to hearing in the sprawling complex that houses Wisconsin's largest circuit court. As a freelance Spanish language interpreter, Bashi's services are in high demand.
BASHI: I turn down almost as many jobs as I accept.
LEHR: Under Wisconsin and federal laws, people with limited English proficiency have the right to a qualified interpreter when they go before a court in many circumstances. Kimberley Bayer, an attorney in Milwaukee, says that ensures everyone gets a fair shake, but Bayer's seeing cases be delayed while a judge searches for a qualified interpreter. For some people, that can mean more time stuck in jail. Once, Bayer had a client who had to wait months for a resolution to his parental rights case.
KIMBERLEY BAYER: It really was pretty painful having to tell him over and over, we don't have enough interpreters so we're going to have to get a new date.
LEHR: There has long been a need for more court interpreters in Wisconsin, but the demand appears to be growing. In 2023, local courts billed nearly 30% more interpreter hours compared to five years prior. That could be fueled in part by a rising number of immigrants who have settled in Wisconsin.
Janice Palma is with the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators. She says many states are struggling to find enough court interpreters. Palma says higher pay would help alleviate the problem.
JANIS PALMA: There is a demand for certain skills and certain knowledge, but that's not being compensated at the level that is being demanded.
LEHR: In Milwaukee County, local officials recently agreed to increase interpreter pay from 50 to $65 an hour. In Wisconsin, the state partially reimburses counties for interpreter costs. County Board Chair Marcelia Nicholson says state lawmakers should set aside more money to help localities with those expenses.
MARCELIA NICHOLSON: Because Milwaukee County has competing priorities, it means that sometimes we're not able to allocate as much funding to those interpreter costs.
LEHR: State lawmakers are in the midst of crafting Wisconsin's next budget, and Senate President Mary Felzkowski, a Republican, told NPR in a statement, she's open to hearing fiscally responsible ideas to support local courts.
Being a court interpreter takes more than just being bilingual. Palma says you have to process what's being said and switch from one language to another almost simultaneously.
PALMA: All of this is happening at the same time. Your brain is working overtime.
LEHR: Spanish interpreters are in the highest demand, but finding people qualified to interpret in other languages can be even more of a struggle. Here in Wisconsin, Hmong is one of the most commonly spoken foreign languages. But since there are no certified Hmong interpreters in the state, courts here often rely on people who drive from Minnesota...
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/01/nx-s1-5376481/demand-for-court-interpreters-increases-across-the-u-s
#metaglossia_mundus
"Interpreters for video calls between Deaf and hearing people are organizing for decent working conditions. The service is publicly funded, but their employers are multinational corporations and private equity. Photos: ASL Interpreters Union-OPEIU
Growing up, I never considered myself an interpreter. It was just life as the daughter of two Deaf parents, in a world where sign language was a lifeline.
I learned from a young age that the quality and availability of interpreters could determine whether a Deaf person had access to the services and rights that hearing people take for granted.
I became a professional interpreter because I understood how vital this access was. But I never expected to be exploited in this work, or to burn out from providing the service that had always come so naturally to me.
That’s why I’ve decided to join the union.
April 30: Online Town Hall
The ASL Interpreters Union–OPEIU and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) will host a public forum on Wednesday, April 30, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern to hear from ASL interpreters on their experiences with deteriorating working conditions in the Video Relay Service industry. Register here.
HIGH VOLUME, LITTLE REST
I work for a company called ZP Better Together as a trilingual interpreter based in Puerto Rico, providing video relay services (VRS) to Deaf individuals—not just between American Sign Language and English, but also to and from Spanish.
VRS enables functionally equivalent communication for Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Deaf-Blind callers, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. It’s funded through the Telecommunications Relay Service Fund, which all Americans with a phone bill pay into, administered by the Federal Communications Commission.
I work from home in San Juan, but get calls from all over the country and internationally. I interpret conversations between Deaf and hearing people over simultaneous video and audio calls for a variety of life situations, from personal conversations to emergency calls.
VRS interpreters handle a high volume of calls each day, often back to back; we don’t even know which language we’re about to get on the phone. We’re expected to maintain a high level of accuracy, efficiency, and professionalism—but that can be incredibly difficult when we have little time to rest between calls or to process particularly difficult or traumatic calls.
The unrelenting pace takes a toll on our physical and mental health; ZP and its primary competitor, Sorenson Communications, are notorious for high rates of attrition and burnout. And it compromises the quality of service we can provide. Deaf people deserve clear and accurate interpretation by qualified, compassionate, well-rested interpreters.
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VRS users are also rightfully frustrated at the long, complicated queue they have to navigate. Callers are abruptly transferred again and again to various interpreters just to get their calls placed. It’s exhausting, especially for those who are not native English-speakers.
ZP is now owned by a French multinational corporation called Teleperformance. Sorenson is owned by the Chicago-based investment firm Ariel, and minority-owned by The Blackstone Group, the world’s largest private equity firm.
NO RETALIATION YET
Thousands of VRS interpreters at ZP and Sorenson are organizing with the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) under its ASL Interpreters Union.
Intrepreters in Fort Collins demonstrated the sign for union (video here), which is also illustrated in their union logo.
These companies have call centers throughout the U.S.; they have opened call centers in Puerto Rico, then closed them, then opened them again. It has been important to our union’s growth that the organizing committee includes trilingual interpreters, making sure the campaign speaks to our particular needs.
As a union, we’re advocating for more time between calls, more jobs for Deaf workers, protections against traumatic or abusive calls, fair working hours, higher compensation for trilingual interpreters, greater access to benefits, higher-quality interpretation, and more resources to support us in our roles.
People are concerned about retaliation if they join—especially younger workers, who have less experience with unions. It’s up to us to explain the protections we have, and the benefits of what we’re trying to accomplish.
But we haven’t seen any retaliation yet. That’s probably because we’ve been very deliberate about building an organizing committee across the United States and Puerto Rico that has been communicating with Sorenson’s and ZP’s parent companies since early in our campaign.
I invite all my fellow ASL interpreters and Deaf and Hard of Hearing community members to join us in this movement.
By Marina Martinez, a VRS interpreter. Learn more at aslunion.org."
https://labornotes.org/blogs/2025/04/video-interpreters-deaf-callers-are-organizing-against-burnout
#metaglossia_mundus
"Everything we knew about “normal” was thrown out the window when the world shut down in 2020. Businesses collapsed, routines fled, and unpredictability became the default. This unprecedented chaos created brand new problems, which required brand new solutions. As a result, innovation exploded.
Technologies for remote work, like Zoom and Slack, have evolved from being an option to being essential. Telehealth grew in popularity. The schools ended up being digital. The most amazing of all is probably the fact that vaccines that normally take 10 years to research and implement were created in less than a year.
That kind of progress doesn’t come from calm, predictable conditions. It happens if the consequences are great, the pressure is intense, and there is no other option than reconsidering everything.
In other words, chaos did not stop invention – it shifted it into high gear.
There are examples of this far beyond global occurrences and huge businesses quickly modifying. The creative process is also influenced by chaos. Kelsey Lowther, a payroll specialist, shared a personal take on this.
“I feel like chaos kind of gives you more things to hear or see or think about all at once. So, it may jog your brain [to] come up with other ideas,” Lowther said.
Lowther’s perspective highlights how even everyday workplace disruption can spark creative thinking on a personal level.
The best ideas rarely come to mind when one is trying to “be creative.” The best ideas typically appear when the mind wanders or falls a little out of harmony, perhaps while on a walk, stuck in traffic, or the shower.
This is a result of the brain’s demand for innovation. The creative mind is trapped when circumstances are overly regulated. However, the human brain feels driven to form new connections when things become a bit confused or unclear. The ability to think creatively depends on what psychologists call “divergent thinking.”
Rajeshwori Malla, junior computer information sciences and data analytics major, believes chaos pushes people to think differently.
“Chaos forces people to let go of routines and think differently,” Malla said. “When everything feels unstable, you’re almost pushed to find new paths you wouldn’t normally consider. It breaks patterns, and that’s where fresh ideas come from.”
Talking about the pandemic, Malla added, “Chaos made innovation happen because there was no other choice.”
In Malla’s own life, she regularly uses “small chaos” to stay creative.
“[I] use small chaos by switching up [my] environment, challenging routines, or giving [myself] weird limits, like trying to solve a problem in half the usual time,” Malla said.
Divergent thinking is the thought process employed to generate multiple possible solutions to an open-ended question. It is the exact opposite of convergent thinking, where the focus is on generating a single correct response.
Divergent thinking thrives when there is no pre-defined structure or formula. It allows the brain to break away from conventional patterns, leading to creative connections and ideas.
That is to say, disorder – be it a hectic day at the office, a global crisis, or even a messy desk – grants the optimal environment for divergent thinking. If the surroundings are uncertain or in disarray, the mind is forced to think differently and to imagine alternatives we may otherwise never think of.
This ability to create new ideas and solutions is what innovation is all about. And while structured, controlled environments may inspire habit and routine, it is the unpredictability of chaos that pushes creativity to its limit.
As per this article by Elon University, even chaos is evolving in the modern digital age. A lot of the technology employed today is engineered by influential groups that built it to benefit the corporation, not the consumer. A lot of platforms work behind the scenes with invisible algorithms deciding things without the public even knowing.
As AI grows bigger and more sophisticated, it’s harder for humans to stay in charge. If not careful, this kind of digital disorientation will strangle innovation instead of advancing it.
One may wonder: “If chaos is such a wonderful creativity tool, does that mean everyone should go out of their way to bring disorder into their lives to spark innovation?” Not quite. But it does mean that rather than resist chaos, the best course of action is to harmonize with it.
When faced with hurdles, whether in life or the workplace, the only way out is innovation. Consider the rapid shift to work-from-home in 2020. Businesses did not have time to wait for the perfect solution. They improvised quickly, mostly using whatever hardware they could get their hands on, and that gave rise to the widespread adoption of tools like Zoom and Slack. They were voluntary tools before; today, they are essential.
According to a Cognizant article, businesses that welcome disruption, such as the move to remote work, can stimulate innovation and creativity in ways that were previously unheard of, demonstrating that crisis doesn’t hamper but rather speeds up progress.
The feeling of urgency created by the pandemic did not kill innovation; it turbocharged it. And this is what we see historically. Innovation increases when there are high stakes, when the pressure’s on, and when there is a breach of the norms. It’s during all that confusion and chaos that the most groundbreaking concepts tend to occur.
As Steve Jobs himself once penned, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
What is the takeaway from this? Instead of resisting chaos, be able to embrace it. Chaos forces one to innovate because they are left with no other choice. By stepping out of rigid traditions and embracing a bit of messiness, more creative breakthroughs can be produced.
Whether it’s providing more time off to think, taking a step back to think outside the box, or simply acknowledging that perfection isn’t always innovation, sometimes it’s the messy, spontaneous moments that produce the best concepts.
When faced with challenges on an international scale, like climate change and technological disruption, uncertainty will remain a key driver of innovation. Those who can accept living in uncertainty will be best positioned to address these problems and create solutions for the future.
Chaos is creativity’s closest friend rather than its enemy. Try leaning into a chaotic environment the next time instead of fighting it. The best ideas are produced in these uncertain times because innovation thrives on uncertainty.
By Stuti Ghimire, Business Manager
Edited by Reid McEvoy
https://washburnreview.org/54773/features/when-the-world-fell-apart-innovation-came-together/&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoTNDk2MjQ4OTQyNTAxODUwNjMwMjIaMGEzMmQyYzg4YTE4NzExZDpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw0My3utt5SDrto3C-CnkHgs
#metaglossia_mundus
"Transcribe Message Feature Now Available For Android Users
WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.25.14.7: Transcribe Message Feature Now Available for Android Users
The feature is available for beta testers and they can navigate the special and specifically dedicated section for the voice message transcription settings.
WhatsApp keeps on brining new features to enhance the overall user experience on its platform. The Meta-owned platform always comes up with several enhancements, making it easier for users to navigate on the app. Recently, as per Wabetainfo, a website responsible for keeping track on upcoming WhatsApp features spotted a new feature where users will be able to choose how voice messages are transcribe.
Here's Everything We Know So Far About WhatsApp Transcribe Feature:
Earlier, the Wabetainfo spotted a feature where you can control how voice messages are transcribed. However, the feature was spotted under the WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.12.10.70 and it was not available for Android at that time. But it seems the company is gradually maximizing the usage of this feature on Android too. In a recent report, Wabetainfo spotted that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to choose how voice messages are transcribed under WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.14.7 update.
The feature is available for beta testers and they can navigate the special and specifically dedicated section for the voice message transcription settings. The section is providing three different options to control how voice messages are transcribed.
Three Options:
Automatic Transcription
Manual Transcription
Third Option prevents voice messages from being automatically and manually transcribed.
The first option of automatic transcription works immediately as soon as you receive messages and hence your messages will be transcribed as soon as it is received. The feature is convenient for people who wants to read the messages and not interested in listening the audio. The second option will allow you to manually set the transcription feature on each time they wish to see one. The third option prevents voice messages from being automatically and manually transcribed."
Published By: Deepti Ratnam
Apr 29, 2025, 10:39 AM IST
https://www.techlusive.in/apps/whatsapp-beta-for-android-2-25-14-7-transcribe-message-feature-now-available-for-android-users-1556960/
#metaglossia_mundus
"More Oregonians speak indigenous languages, but health care interpreters are lacking
Groups are joining Legacy Health to ask lawmakers to beef up the training and accreditation program for interpreters to help people access care, other services
Image
MEMBERS OF THE COLLECTIVE OF INDIGENOUS INTERPRETERS OF OREGON AFTER THEIR GRADUATION CEREMONY AT PORTLAND CENTER STAGE AT THE ARMORY IN DECEMBER./COURTESY OF PUEBLO UNIDO
by JOANNE ZUHL|THE LUND REPORT PREMIUM
MAY 1, 2025
Indigenous-language speakers are a growing population in Oregon, raising the demand for credentialed interpreters for health care. And yet more are speaking languages for which interpreters can't get approved.
As a result of the gaps, advocates say, patients sometimes can’t receive timely treatment and providers at times can’t find someone qualified to speak to them — jeopardizing their care and creating fear and anxiety for all involved.
Formerly uncommon Indigenous languages are becoming more common in Oregon, creating greater need of interpreters for languages from Mexico and Central and South America, according to Pueblo Unido, which facilitates the Collective of Indigenous Interpreters of Oregon.
Now, the group is hoping to secure $1.5 million through House Bill 2976, currently in the Legislature’s budget committee, to add languages to its model for accreditation for Indigenous language interpreters. But to do that it will have to overcome a worsening economic forecast facing lawmakers.
“In the past few years, new or other indigenous languages have come to the fore of those most frequently requested, even surpassing those that traditionally were on the top three or four,” said Cameron Coval, executive director for the Portland-based advocacy and legal services nonprofit Pueblo Unido. More people need interpreters who speak Mam, Chuj and Akateko — spoken across Guatemala and Mexico, Coval said.
‘Catch-22’ as Oregon’s indigenous needs grow
Drawing on court and migration documents, Pueblo Unido now estimates that there are more than 50,000 Indigenous language speakers living in Oregon — up from the 35,000 estimate from just two years ago when the organization first secured state funding to develop its accreditation process.
In testimony to the House committee in March, Coval called the existing interpreter situation a “Catch-22”.
With few exceptions, credentials are required to provide interpretation services. To obtain that credential, an interpreter often must pass a formal language proficiency exam. But these proficiency exams don't currently exist for many Indigenous languages. The lack of proficiency exams means interpreters can’t be included in interpreter registries — and organizations and providers that fail to use credentialed interpreters can be fined.
Oregon already makes it harder to become a credentialed interpreter than in other states, causing challenges for health care organizations that serve low-income people. Coval echoes state reports that say without access to quality interpretation services, people struggle to receive life-saving medical care, cannot access basic needs, and are unable to fully participate in their local communities.
Other testimony from interpreters with Pueblo Unido recounted situations where the lack of an Indigenous interpreter meant long delays in care, to the detriment of the patient’s health, and additional resources spent on urgent care that might have been avoided.
Overseas outsourcing a threat to care, Legacy says
Legacy Health leaders have come out in support of the bill, citing struggles to find in-person interpreters who speak Indigenous languages of Mexico and Guatemala. At times, they have to rely on phone interpreting companies who often outsource these languages overseas, which can lead to emotional stress, frustration, and fear for patients and hospital staff in emergencies.
Interpreters are needed not only in health care environments, but also education, labor and court situations. The proposal in HB 2976 has garnered the support of labor organizations, the Oregon Farm Bureau, and the Oregon Judicial Department, which has documented the increased need for Indigenous language interpreters.
Figures from the Oregon Judicial Department show that from 2020 to 2024, the number of Indigenous language interpreter assignments have increased by an average of more than 25% each year. Mam, an Indigenous language from Guatemala, is in the top 10 of interpreter-requested languages for OJD. State statute requires the use of qualified interpreters in order to protect the constitutional rights of individuals who do not speak English in administrative and court proceedings.
Image
SOURCE: OREGON JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Funds would add languages
The money would be used to develop three language proficiency evaluations for now-commonly spoken Indigenous languages in Oregon, including Mam, and to support recruitment, retention, and coordination of a qualified Indigenous interpreter workforce.
Coval said the impact of having accredited Indigenous interpreters will be “enormous.”
“Without that credential, they don't have a career pathway to pursue interpretation,” Coval told The Lund Report. “By offering the opportunity for interpreters to obtain credentials, just like an interpreter of any other language, we're creating this career pathway, bolstering Oregon's business interpreter workforce, who can then better serve our state entities like the Oregon Health Authority and its partners, or judicial departments and our other public benefit service providers.
“I don't think we can understate the impact of making yourself understood and being able to understand what somebody’s sharing with you in all of life settings,” Coval said."
https://www.thelundreport.org/content/more-oregonians-speak-indigenous-languages-health-care-interpreters-are-lacking
#metaglossia_mundus
"Two New Groundbreaking Dictionaries of South Africa’s indigenous languages. Dr. Max Marhanele Helps Preserve Xitsonga with New Dictionaries In Limpopo, South Africa, Dr. Max Marhanele is working hard to protect the Xitsonga language. A former teacher and examiner, he noticed a serious need for better Xitsonga language resources. To help fix this, he created two important dictionaries of South Africa’s indigenous languages. The first, Tihlu’ngu’ ta rixaka, is a monolingual Xitsonga dictionary. He released it in 2016. It explains words using only the Xitsonga language, without translating them into English or other languages. In April 2025, Dr. Marhanele released his second book, Xilamulela-mhangu, which means “The Rescuer.” This dictionary helps people translate words from English into Xitsonga. He created it to make learning and teaching Xitsonga easier. “People should take pride in speaking and writing their language,” he said. “It’s sad to see Xitsonga teachers struggle to explain certain words. These books are here to help.” Dr. Marhanele worked closely with Freddy Bila, the founder of Timbila Publishing. Bila supported the project from start to finish. Thanks to their teamwork, both dictionaries are now helping students and teachers across the region. So far, readers have given great feedback. Many say the books helped them better understand their own language. In addition to writing dictionaries, Dr. Marhanele has published 15 books and co-authored 25 more. Schools and universities use many of his titles in their Xitsonga programs. He has also helped young writers like James Magayisa and Dr. Freddy Rikhotso. “Seeing my students succeed makes me happy,” he said. In 2023, Tshwane University of Technology awarded him an honorary doctorate for his work to preserve Xitsonga. This inspiring story connects deeply with The Dictionary Project. Like Dr. Marhanele, we believe every child should have access to a dictionary. Whether in English or Xitsonga, a dictionary builds pride, literacy, and opportunity." https://www.dictionaryproject.org/2025/04/two-new-groundbreaking-dictionaries-of-south-africas-indigenous-languages/ #metaglossia_mundus
“Nothing is untranslatable,” says Elisa Amado, translator of Clara and the Man with Books in His Window Guatemala-born Elisa Amado is an accomplished author and translator. Her books include Manuelito, which was a joint winner of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s 2019 Best Books for Kids & Teens, What Are You Doing?, and Why Are You Doing That? Amado’s latest picture book translation, Clara and the Man with Books in His Window (Greystone Kids, May 20) by Hans Christian Andersen Award–winning Argentinian author María Teresa Andruetto (illustrated by Martina Trach), is based on a true story about the unlikely friendship between María’s mother and Juan, a book-loving recluse. Amado spoke with Q&Q about why it’s more important than ever to bring stories from around the world to North American children. Can you recall the first story that you connected with deeply?
As a translator, The Composition by Antonio Skármeta – a great Chilean author. It’s a story about a boy who is asked to tell people at his school what his family does at night. If he does, he might win a prize – a football. He loves football. He also knows that his parents listen to clandestine radio. But his composition is about how they play chess every evening. It is a perfect story about living in a dictatorship, very pertinent in Latin America at the time. Now once again, maybe even in the U.S., it is very timely. Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
The Tricycle/El triciclo about a girl, perched in a tree, who sees her much poorer young neighbours stealing the tricycle she carelessly left out. When asked where it went, she lies and blames unknown robbers to protect the kids. Did you always know you wanted to work in children’s books?
Yes. I learned English by having my mother read children’s books to me. There were very few Spanish books for children at that time. How did you get your start in translating children’s books?
By being asked to help Groundwood Books bring books from the Spanish-speaking world to North American kids. When you take on a project like Clara and the Man with Books in His Window, where do you begin?
By deepening my knowledge of its great author, María Teresa Andruetto. This book is based on a true story about her mother. She won the Hans Christian Andersen Award (in 2012) – the only Spanish-language author to do so. I was really shocked to discover that despite her incredible output, she had not been previously translated into English. What are the challenges unique to translating children’s books?
Staying true to the voice of the author while making sure it is accessible for children in North America. So few foreign language books for children are made available in the English-speaking world. Are there any challenges specific to translating a text from Spanish to English?
No. Just as with all translations, the best books are excellent literature and the author’s voice must be maintained. I was shocked when a senior person in Canadian publishing said that when it came to children’s books, there would be no problem in using AI to write and/or translate them. That person obviously understands nothing about the great tradition of literary children’s books in many languages, including English. How do you deal with concepts or words that are untranslatable?
Nothing is untranslatable. It’s a matter of using voice and means of expression in English that can render the meaning and be true to the author’s style. The only true danger is censorship by the growing cohort of people, especially in the U.S., who want to children’s books to be commercial shells without any kind of truth. Do you collaborate or have discussions with the author?
Sometimes. And also, with the original publisher. The translations are always approved by both. Can you describe what it feels like bringing a story to life in another language for a new audience?
Wonderful. The only way to help people around the world be good to each other is to know them, as they truly are. And children are the place to start that process. This is the mission of IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People), whose work I admire greatly. If you could translate any children’s book, which would it be and why?
There are so many great, great books that await translation. It’s impossible to say. But with Greystone Kids behind me, and the ability to continue to work with authors whose previous books I’ve translated, at Groundwood, I’m very lucky to be able to find great texts. This interview has been edited and condensed. Illustration: Martina Trach.
"An ancient Middle Eastern civilization that developed an early alphabet spread its culture far and wide — but not its DNA, finds a 23 April Nature study1 of hundreds of ancient human genomes. Phoenician civilization emerged more than 3,000 years ago, centred around what is now Lebanon, before expanding across the Mediterranean Sea. Middle Eastern Phoenician city-states eventually fell to other groups, but the culture thrived farther west — most notably in Carthage, in what is now Tunisia, until its destruction in 146 bc. From Vikings to Beethoven: what your DNA says about your ancient relatives Phoenician city-states shared languages — recorded with an alphabet that was a precursor to Greek and Latin letters — religious practices and maritime trading economies. Many researchers have presumed that their inhabitants also shared ancestries connected to the culture’s Middle Eastern origins. To study this history, population geneticist Harald Ringbauer at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, and his colleagues analysed the DNA from the remains of around 200 people from Phoenician archaeological sites in the Middle East, Europe and North Africa..." By Ewen Callaway https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01283-w #metaglossia_mundus
Ù“The scholars will examine the cultural, social, and legal processes of exchange that shape translation. The understanding of 'translation' goes far beyond mere linguistic adaptation: it also includes the transformation of meanings, norms, and discourses in different contexts.
"How do we deal with the translation and adaptation of concepts of knowledge, culture and law across different languages, societies, or systems? The international conference "Navigating Epistemic, Cultural, and Legal Translations: Processes, Hierarchies, Spaces" of the Leibniz ScienceCampus (LSC) "Europe and America in the Modern World" addresses this topic at the University of Regensburg.
The conference, with high-profile researchers from around the world, marks the end of the first funding phase (2019-2025) and the beginning of the second phase (2024-2028) of the LSC.
With a focus on transregional linkages - with contributions from the Americas, Western, Southern and Eastern Europe, including Central Asia - the conference will bring together researchers from different disciplines.
“Since 2019, the Leibniz ScienceCampus has been highly instrumental in the significant development of Area Studies here in Regensburg,” said University President Professor Dr. Udo Hebel at the opening of the conference. “In its specific structure and organization, the LSC illustrates and underlines how collaborative and team-oriented research can be successfully practiced in the humanities and social sciences.”
“The scholars will examine the cultural, social, and legal processes of exchange that shape translation. The understanding of 'translation' goes far beyond mere linguistic adaptation: it also includes the transformation of meanings, norms, and discourses in different contexts. The topics range from avant-garde movements, feminist activism and their respective cultural expressions to the transfer and adaptation of legal norms, including in less explored contexts of interdependence, such as between Latin America and Eastern Europe," explains Professor Dr. Anne Brüske (Department of Interdisciplinary and Multiscalar Area Studies - DIMAS, UR). They also show "that 'translation' is an interactive and often contested process, influenced by power structures and historical legacies," adds Professor Dr. Cindy Wittke (Faculty of Law, UR and IOS Regensburg political scientist). Brüske and Wittke are co-organizing the conference.
The diversity of the conference topics reflects the dynamics of a global world, its interconnections and conflicts. Professor Dr. Ulf Brunnbauer (LSC, IOS, UR), Scientific Director of the IOS and the LSC emphasizes: "The Campus is an important link between the University of Regensburg and the IOS and is crucial for the development of Regensburg as a leading international location for Area Studies. Its transatlantic research perspective could not be more relevant"...
Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Professor Dr. Ulf Brunnbauer, Professor Dr. Anne Brüske, Professor Dr. Cindy Wittke"
https://nachrichten.idw-online.de/2025/04/24/knowledge-culture-and-law-across-societies-and-spaces-lsc-conference-at-the-university-of-regensburg?groupcolor=2
#metaglossia_mundus
"The end of an era? Google Search’s dominance might be fading
Last updated: 30 April 2025
Anton Mous
Senior copywriter/journalist
By Cybernews.
Google Search has dominated the online search engine space for over a decade. For the first time, Google’s global market share has plummeted below 90%.
According to Statcounter’s latest numbers, Google Search currently has a worldwide market share of 89.71%. The last time Google’s market share dropped below 90% was in early 2015. On desktop, Google’s global share has dropped even more significantly to 79.1%. In Europe, the company’s search engine occupies 77.78% of the market.
According to Hanna Bozakov, Head of Marketing and Press Officer at email service provider Tuta, this trend shows that users are more skeptical of what search engine they use.
“Some might now say a 1% decline that’s nothing. But if you break it down to actual numbers of users, this shift is dramatic,” she says in a company blog post.
Bozakov estimates that this means that 50 million people have decided not to use Google Search anymore, which is a significant number. This only marks the beginning of Google’s downfall, she thinks.
“The data from recent months also suggests that this is not a one-time anomaly. It could very well be the beginning of a larger shift in user behavior as more and more people are increasingly concerned over privacy, monopolistic control, and data exploitation,” Bozakov explains.
She argues that more people leaving Google Search is a good thing for a “better, free, and diversified internet.”
“We expect that this is only the beginning and that more and more people will wake up and understand that the dominance of Big Tech is a problem and that it can only be solved by choosing alternative services,” Tuta’s Press Officer states.
Google Search’s dominance in the search engine market makes this difficult. For example, Tuta’s privacy-first alternative to Gmail has virtually disappeared from Google Search. Tuta isn’t the only company that has felt the wrath of Google’s monopolistic behavior. Other privacy-focused services, independent developers, and startups have reported similar issues with Google Search in the past.
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“That’s why we at Tuta welcome the fact that Google’s monopoly on search might finally come to an end,” Bozakov writes.
She also refers to US Federal District Judge Amit Metha’s ruling that Google acted as a monopolist by abusing its dominant position in the search engine market. By paying companies like Apple and Mozilla for placing Google Search as the default search engine in their web browsers, Google harms competition and unfairly protects its market dominance.
Bozakov encourages people to turn to alternative, privacy-first search services and to say ‘no’ to Google and its intrusive tracking.
Despite Google Search’s reduction, the tech conglomerate is still way ahead of the competition. In second place, we find Microsoft’s search engine Bing, with a measly 4.01% market share. Competitors like Yandex, Yahoo!, and Chinese search engine Baidu are even smaller, with a market share of 2.51% or less."
https://cybernews.com/news/google-searchs-dominance-fading/
#metaglossia_mundus
Bountiful, Utah--(Newsfile Corp. - April 29, 2025) - OneMeta Inc. (OTCQB: ONEI), the leader in AI-driven multilingual communication solutions
"...VerbumAgentis, the innovative multilingual communication platform first unveiled in January 2025, is now officially in production. VerbumAgentis is ready to meet the strong growing demand from customer service centers and enterprises striving to offer simultaneous, real-time multilingual communication. This communication milestone signifies a new era for call centers and businesses seeking to seamlessly enhance simultaneous communication and customer experience across language barriers.
"We built VerbumAgentis to remove the delay, the confusion, and the friction in language interpretation," said Saul Leal, CEO of OneMeta Inc. "Now, both agents and customers communicate in real-time. No pauses. No delays. Just understanding."
Unlike solutions aimed at replacing human agents, VerbumAgentis is built to work alongside customer service center professionals, providing augmented capabilities that empower them to perform at their very best. By combining advanced AI technology with human intelligence, the platform enables businesses to achieve significant operational benefits, including reduced costs, improved customer experiences, and enhanced data security.
VerbumAgentis leverages OneMeta's state-of-the-art AI to deliver real-time multilingual interpretation effortlessly. The platform allows agents to respond in their native language, while the customer hears the reply instantly in their own native language. The result is fluid, natural communication without delays or third-party interpreters.
Unlike conventional tools or AI parrots that mimic speech with delays, VerbumAgentis provides true real-time, simultaneous interpretation. Agents type in their native language, and customers hear spoken responses immediately—without waiting for translation cycles. The system supports live, natural, and uninterrupted conversations, giving the feel of native-language interactions on both ends.
VerbumAgentis is designed to address the complex needs of global communication. The platform offers the following groundbreaking features:
Real-Time Multilingual Conversations: Fluid communication with simultaneous AI responses that eliminate traditional interpretation delays.
Human-AI Collaboration: Empower agents to oversee and customize AI-generated responses in their native language, ensuring accuracy and personalization.
Extensive Language Support: Supports over 150 languages, enabling businesses to interact effectively with diverse audiences.
Always-On Availability: Operates securely 24/7 with SOC2 and HIPAA-compliant security protocols, ensuring peace of mind for businesses and their customers.
VerbumAgentis provides customer service centers with expanded capabilities that go beyond efficiency. By using VerbumAgentis, organizations can deliver higher-quality interactions, address multilingual communication challenges, and meet the growing expectations of consumers worldwide.
"VerbumAgentis was created to enhance, not replace, human agents," said Saul Leal, CEO of OneMeta Inc. "By integrating this technology, businesses can achieve an unparalleled balance of operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. It's about empowering agents to do their job better and helping organizations deliver exceptional experiences."
Strong Growth Across Industries
VerbumAgentis is built for industries with diverse and evolving communication needs. It's already rapidly gaining demand in the following sectors:
Customer Support: Seamlessly provides instant multilingual assistance without requiring multilingual agents.
Healthcare: Breaks down language barriers in critical, life-impacting interactions between medical providers and patients.
Retail & E-Commerce: Builds stronger customer relationships by delivering personalized real-time support, regardless of preferred language.
Innovation and Security
OneMeta delivers secure, scalable, and future-proof technology. VerbumAgentis complies with stringent SOC2 and HIPAA standards, addressing the critical need for robust security in today's digital ecosystem.
About OneMeta Inc.
OneMeta Inc. is a multilingual enablement company focused on overcoming the communication challenges of a world with many languages. Its proprietary end-to end natural language processing architecture allows the spoken and written words to be synthesized, translated, and transcribed in less than one second. OneMeta's technology supports real-time web-based and mobile phone-based conversations, discussions, meetings, and online chats in over 150 languages and dialects. OneMeta's technology is fully compliant with SOC2, HIPAA, and GDPR standards, ensuring the highest levels of enterprise security and privacy.
OneMeta Inc.: We create a more understanding world.™
For more information about VerbumAgentis and its capabilities, visit www.onemeta.ai.
Media Contact: info@onemeta.ai
SOURCE: OneMeta Inc.
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250061/OneMeta-Unleashes-RealTime-ZeroDelay-Simultaneous-Interpretation-for-Customer-Service-Centers-with-VerbumAgentis
#metaglossia_mundus
"Gesture in Interpreting: The latest issue of Parallèles is out.
We are pleased to announce our new special issue on Gesture in Interpreting, guest edited by Sílvia Gabarró-López and Alan Cienki. The issue features nine papers covering a range of topics and language combinations, as well as theoretical, methodological and practical reflections related to the use of gesture in spoken-to-spoken and signed-to-spoken language interpreting.
Parallèles, Issue 37(1), April 2025, Table of Contents.
April 30, 2025"
https://www.unige.ch/fti/en/a-la-une/new-issue-of-paralleles1/
"Africa’s media sign language interpreters have raised concerns over low payment, inadequate training, and the absence of interpretation services in important programs meant to cater to the deaf community.
Speaking during the first Africa Media Sign Language Interpreter Conference held in Nairobi on Friday, they revealed plans to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop tools that can recognise African languages and translate them into sign language.
“These interpreters are often overworked, underpaid, and underrepresented. We must recognise them as professionals and ensure they are properly trained and supported,” said Moreen Nambalirwa, President of the Uganda National Association of Sign Language Interpreters. Among the participants were sign language interpreters from Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, South Africa, and other African countries.
Various panelists noted that while many African media houses include sign language interpretation during news segments, other programs—such as entertainment, education, and public awareness campaigns—often exclude deaf audiences.
Naomie Koffi, a media sign language interpreter from Senegal, stressed the importance of formal training and national recognition of media sign language interpreters.
“In Senegal, even during news segments, there is no sign language interpretation except during parliamentary sessions or presidential press conferences. Neither is the language officially recognised nor widely taught,” Koffi said."
By Flavier Momanyi | Apr. 27, 2025
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/amp/national/article/2001517532/africas-sign-language-interpreters-push-for-recognition-fair-payment
#metaglossia_mundus
“La Révolution de la Traduction Vocale en Temps Réel : Une Nouvelle Ère de Communication”
La révolution de la traduction vocale en temps réel transforme considérablement notre manière de communiquer à l’échelle mondiale. Grâce aux avancées technologiques, il est désormais possible de traduire instantanément des conversations dans différentes langues, renforçant ainsi les interactions interculturelles. Ces innovations s’appuient sur des intelligences artificielles sophistiquées qui analysent et interprètent la parole humaine avec une précision remarquable.
Les applications de cette technologie sont vastes, allant des discussions professionnelles lors de conférences internationales aux échanges quotidiens entre personnes parlant des langues différentes. La facilité d’utilisation et la rapidité de la traduction permettent de surmonter les barrières linguistiques qui ont longtemps limité les échanges. Par ailleurs, cette évolution suscite des débats sur l’avenir de la traduction humaine et la place des traducteurs dans ce nouvel écosystème.
En conclusion, la traduction vocale en temps réel représente une avancée majeure, symbolisant un pas vers un monde plus connecté et inclusif, où chacun peut se faire comprendre, quelle que soit sa langue maternelle.
Pour en savoir plus sur le sujet, rendez-vous sur https://www.neo-modus.com/la-revolution-de-la-traduction-vocale-en-temps-reel/";
https://www.mtm-news.com/la-revolution-de-la-traduction-vocale-en-temps-reel-une-nouvelle-ere-de-communication/
Google Translate développe un raccourci pour lancer des recherches web depuis les traductions
Publié le 27 avril 2025 à 17h00
Google teste un bouton dans son application Translate qui permet de lancer une recherche web instantanée depuis un texte traduit. Cette fonction reste pour l'instant réservé à une partie des utilisateurs Android.
©mundissima / Shutterstock L'info en 3 points
- Google Translate expérimente un bouton de recherche web instantanée, simplifiant l'accès à des informations compl1mentaires.
- L'application intègre des langues diverses, y compris des dialectes rares, visant une audience plus large et diversifiée.
- Google prépare des améliorations, incluant l'IA Gemini, augmentant la qualité et fluidité des traductions.
Google Translate (ou traduction, si vous l'utilisez pour traduire) prépare une nouveauté qui facilite la recherche d'informations complémentaires après une traduction. Dans la dernière version Android, un bouton « Rechercher » apparaît à côté du texte traduit. En appuyant dessus, l'utilisateur peut lancer rapidement une recherche Google dans la langue cible. Plusieurs langues, dont l'arabe, le chinois et des dialectes plus rares comme l'awadhi, sont pour l'instant compatibles. La fonction reste encore en phase de tests et n'est pas activée par défaut. Cette nouveauté complète un panel d'outils déjà présents dans Translate, comme le mode « Entraînement » qui propose des exercices de vocabulaire, ou encore un bouton « Demander un suivi », en développement, qui donne accès à une intelligence artificielle pour mieux comprendre certains mots ou expressions sans sortir de l'application.
- La qualité de la traduction
- 108 langues traduites
- Discussions instantanées
Un bouton proche du texte traduit pour lancer une recherche dans la langue cible
Le bouton s'affiche juste à côté de la traduction, à portée de main. Il reprend le logo G de Google et se veut discret. En un clic, il transforme automatiquement la traduction en requête Google. Par exemple, si vous traduisez « politique environnementale » en chinois simplifié, l'appui sur ce bouton ouvre les résultats Google en chinois. Vous accédez à des définitions, articles ou actualités sans passer par un copieur-coller fastidieux. Selon AssembleDebug , spécialiste des analyses d'applications Google, Google hésite sur l'affichage des résultats. Ceux-ci peuvent s'ouvrir dans l'application Google ou dans le navigateur par défaut. Cette option pourrait être personnalisable. La fonction reste encore cachée et nécessite une activation manuelle. Google teste sa stabilité avant une éventuelle mise à disposition générale. L'intégration de dialectes méconnus, comme l'awadhi, indique que Google veut aller au-delà des langues les plus parlées afin de toucher des publics plus larges.
Google Translate va s'enrichir de dialectes jusqu'ici méconnus, comme l'awadhi - ©Poetra.RH / Shutterstock
Des améliorations qui remplacent Translate au cœur de l'apprentissage
Translate ne se limite plus à la traduction. Le mode « Entraînement » propose des exercices pour apprendre le vocabulaire et les phrases. Le bouton « Demander un suivi » aide l'utilisateur à obtenir des explications détaillées grâce à une intelligence artificielle intégrée. Le bouton de recherche complète ces fonctions en donnant accès à un contenu riche, externe et dans la langue cible. Cela facilite la compréhension, le contexte culturel et offre une immersion plus profonde dans la langue. Le code de la version 9.7.102 montre que Google prépare la possibilité de choisir entre ouvrir les résultats dans Google ou dans un navigateur. Par ailleurs, Gemini, l'IA maison de Google, devrait améliorer la qualité des traductions et des interactions, et rendre Translate plus fluide et accessible. En revanche, Pour l'instant, Google reste silencieux sur la date exacte de sortie du raccourci de recherche." https://www.clubic.com/actualite-563427-google-translate-developpe-un-raccourci-pour-lancer-des-recherches-web-depuis-les-traductions.html #metaglossia_mundus
"La paroisse Saint-Augustin du Cap-Esterias a servi de cadre ce samedi pour la présentation et la dédicace de l’Évangile selon Saint Luc qui vient d’être traduit en Benga, une langue locale gabonaise par une équipe mixte composée des fidèles et de l’église catholique et ceux de l’église protestante.
L’heureux et historique événement de dédicace de l’ouvrage a été organisé sous l’égide de la Coordination Inter-Églises pour l’Alphabétisation et la Traduction en Langues Gabonaises (CIEATLG). Il a rassemblé des représentants catholiques, protestants et des communautés locales autour d’un même texte sacré, désormais accessible dans une langue du terroir.
« C’est une grande joie d’accueillir la dédicace d’un Évangile dans une langue locale. La Parole de Dieu est le fondement de la foi, et sa traduction permet à chaque peuple de s’y reconnaître », s’est réjoui l’abbé Amedee, curé de la paroisse..."
https://gabonactu.com/blog/2025/04/27/religion-levangile-selon-saint-luc-traduit-en-benga-langue-locale-gabonaise/
#metaglossia_mundus
"SIEL 2025 : Naoufal El Bakali présente "les pratiques textuelles de la traduction"
©Ayoub Amar Zineb Jazoulisamedi 26 avril 2025 - 22:39L’édition 2025 du Salon International de l’Edition et du Livre (SIEL), a été marquée par la présentation du premier ouvrage de Naoufal El Bakali, intitulé « Les pratiques textuelles de la traduction : étude linguistique et traductologique ». Ce travail de longue haleine, publié aux Éditions Afrique-Orient, est le fruit de plusieurs années de recherche, d’engagement et de réflexion approfondie dans le domaine de la traduction. L’ouvrage, qui a vu le jour après trois années de travaux acharnés, est le résultat d’une démarche intellectuelle amorcée bien avant la pandémie de COVID-19. Naoufal El Bakali a en effet expliqué que l’idée du livre lui était venue en pleine crise sanitaire : « Pendant la crise du COVID, j’ai ressenti la nécessité d’écrire un livre sur les pratiques de la traduction. C’est une idée qui m’est venue dans un moment de réflexion intense, alors que le monde était figé par la pandémie. » Cette réflexion, née dans un contexte mondial particulier, a progressivement pris forme et s’est concrétisée en 2023, deux ans après le début de la crise. ©Ayoub Amar Cet ouvrage se distingue par sa capacité à croiser théorie et pratique. Bien que le domaine de la traduction soit reconnu pour sa complexité et la difficulté de théoriser les multiples facettes de ce processus, El Bakali a su s’y attaquer avec une approche méthodique et rigoureuse. Au micro de Hespress FR, El Bakali a précisé qu’il “ est vrai que théoriser sur la traduction est un exercice difficile en raison de la diversité des domaines qu’elle touche, mais c’est précisément cette diversité qui enrichit l’analyse« , précise-t-il. L’ouvrage ne se limite pas à une réflexion théorique, mais propose également des exemples concrets issus de la pratique de la traduction, abordant les problèmes récurrents et les dysfonctionnements que rencontrent les traducteurs, que ce soit dans des textes juridiques, techniques, scientifiques ou littéraires. ©Ayoub Amar Ce livre constitue ainsi une ressource incontournable pour les chercheurs et les professionnels du secteur, qui y trouveront des pistes de réflexion sur les enjeux contemporains de la traduction. El Bakali a précisé que son objectif n’était pas seulement d’apporter une analyse théorique, mais aussi de mettre en lumière les défis pratiques que la traduction impose au quotidien : « Dans cet ouvrage, j’ai voulu offrir une réflexion sur la manière dont la traduction se confronte aux enjeux linguistiques et culturels du monde moderne, tout en illustrant les difficultés concrètes rencontrées par les traducteurs. » L’une des particularités de cet ouvrage réside dans sa capacité à ouvrir le débat sur les pratiques de la traduction. En présentant des exemples tirés de la réalité professionnelle, il invite à réfléchir sur les pratiques de traduction en tant que processus dynamique, interactif et parfois imparfait. Ainsi El Bakali a notamment abordé des questions cruciales liées aux problèmes de traduction automatique, aux défis de l’interprétation des sens dans des contextes culturels spécifiques, ainsi qu’aux enjeux éthiques auxquels sont confrontés les traducteurs dans leur quotidien. ©Ayoub Amar Dans un discours empreint de modestie, mais aussi d’une profonde conviction académique, le professeur à l’Ecole supérieure Roi Fahd de Traduction a également souligné l’importance de cet ouvrage pour la recherche dans le domaine de la traduction. « Je suis là aujourd’hui pour échanger avec le public, les enseignants-chercheurs, les chercheurs et les étudiants. Ce livre, je le présente comme une contribution à la réflexion collective sur la traduction. Il ne se veut pas un manuel définitif, mais un point de départ pour des discussions et des recherches futures », s’exprime -t-i. L’événement a été marqué par un large intérêt du public, qui n’a pas manqué de poser des questions sur les aspects pratiques et théoriques du livre. Les échanges ont été riches et stimulants, avec de nombreux chercheurs et étudiants exprimant leur enthousiasme face à la pertinence et la profondeur du travail présenté. ©Ayoub Amar Cet ouvrage ne se contente pas de remettre en question les pratiques de la traduction, il invite à une véritable remise en perspective de la discipline, en l’inscrivant dans une dynamique de recherche et de questionnement continu. Les pratiques textuelles de la traduction se présente donc comme un ouvrage de référence, essentiel pour tous ceux qui souhaitent approfondir leur compréhension des complexités de l’acte de traduire. Ce livre, véritable témoignage d’un parcours académique rigoureux et passionné, trouvera sans aucun doute sa place dans les bibliothèques des chercheurs, étudiants et professionnels de la traduction, et constitue une nouvelle étape dans le développement de la recherche en traductologie." https://fr.hespress.com/421385-siel-2025-naoufal-el-bakali-presente-les-pratiques-textuelles-de-la-traduction.html #metaglossia_mundus
"Translators’ Voices: China's diplomatic philosophy paves ‘road of hope’ for people of two nations, says former advisor to Cambodian Senate
By Hu Yuwei
Published: Apr 20, 2025 11:19 PM
Editor's Note:
"At present, China's relations with its neighboring countries are at their best in modern times, and are also entering a critical phase of deep linkage between the regional landscape and the world changes" — the recent Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries held in Beijing made such a profound judgment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from April 14 to 18, highlighting the guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy in neighborhood relations. In the first volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, President Xi emphasized that China's basic policy of diplomacy with neighboring countries is characterized by "amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness."
In the third installment of the "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" series, the Global Times continues to invite Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers to share their insights, understandings and reflections on the ideas of China's neighborhood diplomacy, which emphasizes amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, China's advocacy for building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries as well as its vision of creating a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home.
In the third installment of "Translator's Voices" column comprised of interviews with translators of the book series from various countries, GT reporter Hu Yuwei talked to Dr Chea Munyrith (Chea), president of the Cambodian Chinese Evolution Researcher Association and the former advisor to Cambodia's Senate, who shared how China's diplomatic philosophy inspires him to convey President Xi's wisdom to the Cambodian people.
Dr Chea Munyrith works on the translation of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. Photo: Courtesy of Chea
GT: Thank you for accepting the interview with the Global Times on decoding the book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. In a previous interview, you mentioned that you first read the book in a library in Beijing in 2014. Could you still recall the moment? What inspired you to translate the book?
Chea: In December 2014, as the Cambodian Director of the Confucius Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, I attended the Confucius Institute Annual Conference in Beijing. During that time, I came across the English version of the book. One article titled "Work Together to Build the Silk Road Economic Belt" deeply impressed me. The article states, "We should expand regional cooperation with a more open mind and broader vision, and achieve joint progress." Through the article, I understand that China is a major power which has always stood with developing countries. This becomes a driving force for my motivation to translate this great book and share the Chinese leader's wisdom with the Cambodian people.
Therefore, upon returning home, I immediately recommended this book to the office of the Cabinet of Cambodia. The Royal Academy of Cambodia also attached great importance to it by establishing a translation working committee for the translation and promotion of the book in Khmer. I was fortunate to be involved in this effort.
GT: You have served as the Cambodian Director of the Confucius Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia for eight years and are a well-known China expert. You once described the book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China as "a golden key to understanding China's development." How do you interpret the "Oriental Wisdom" embedded in China's neighborhood diplomacy? How is the wisdom manifested in China-Cambodian exchanges?
Chea: Peaceful diplomacy and opportunities for countries to stand shoulder to shoulder, standing on equality and win-win cooperation are the Chinese philosophy and the wisdom of President Xi.
I believe China's neighborhood diplomacy philosophy profoundly embodies the "Oriental Wisdom" of "harmonious coexistence." It is mainly reflected in three dimensions.
First is building a new form of international relations with the civilizational ethos of "being kind to your neighbor." China's diplomacy has always adhered to the principle of "forging friendship and partnership with our neighbors," which stems from the traditional worldview of "promoting harmony among all nations."
Second is deepening practical cooperation with the advocacy of "valuing both righteousness and interests in shaping international relations." In China-Cambodia cooperation, there are not only "hard connectivity" projects like the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, but also "soft connectivity" achievements in education, healthcare, and poverty reduction.
Third is guiding regional governance with the global sentiment of "a shared future. From the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism to the building of an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, China has consistently practiced the "Oriental Wisdom": if you yourself desire rank and standing, then help others to get rank and standing.
GT: President Xi pointed out in the first issue of the book series that "China's basic policy of diplomacy with neighboring countries is to treat them as friends and partners, to foster an amicable, secure, and prosperous neighboring environment. This policy is characterized by amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness." You said that you carefully deliberated over the phrase "amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness" during translation. How did you understand these four principles at the time? And how did you employ language to help Cambodian readers genuinely comprehend the wisdom behind China's diplomatic concept?
Chea: China's diplomacy adheres to building relations with neighboring countries based on amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness. Through translating the book series and reading Xi's important speeches, I have come to understand the meaning of these four words more clearly and translated them into Khmer to share with Cambodians.
Amity involves good-neighborly interactions, mutual support and assistance, and frequent reciprocal visits, and is informed by equality, cultural affinity, and empathy. China contributes to stronger ties, and enhances the appeal of Cambodia and our region as a whole and its impact on world affairs.
Sincerity is required in working with our neighbors. Both China and Cambodia, as well as the world as a whole need more friends and partners.
Mutual benefit is the foundation on which China cooperates with its neighbors. China helps strengthen networks for Cambodia and those who share common interests, and enables China and Cambodia, as well as China's other neighbors to benefit from each other as they pursue their development strategies.
Inclusiveness is indispensable to regional cooperation. Underpinned by the belief that the Asia-Pacific region is large enough to accommodate us all, it encourages open-mindedness as China works more proactively with the whole world toward shared goals.
To ensure translation quality, the Royal Academy of Cambodia specially established an expert review panel comprising eight senior sinologists to rigorously examine the translated text. The translation process lasted six months, with three months dedicated to translation and another three months to proofreading.
During this process, I felt particularly connected to Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu's famous quote that President Xi cited in the book: "Governing a big country is as delicate as frying a small fish." Cambodia has been profoundly influenced by Chinese philosophy and culture, particularly the teachings of Lao Tzu, Confucius, and Mencius. The literal meaning — that governing a nation is like frying a small fish in a pan — makes its profound wisdom immediately comprehensible to Cambodian readers."
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1332502.shtml
#metaglossia_mundus
Translator Bui Xuan Linh shares his thoughts on Shakespeare and literature, focusing on the needs of Vietnamese readers.
"Shakespeare translator Bui Xuan Linh: “Taking the reader as the centre helps visualise what the reader expects”
By Trịnh Nam Trân
Apr 20, 2025
In the warm, understated setting of the Saturday Café Văn Hóa Salon, translator Bui Xuan Linh—soft-spoken and unassuming—shares his reflections on Shakespeare: the man, his world, and the enduring richness he gifted to literary tradition.
Most of those attending that day had only encountered Shakespeare in passing, and yet they felt deeply moved by the translator’s own reverence—he who had pioneered the ambitious Shakespeare Bookcase project. At the time, few in the audience knew how the journey began, or how demanding it had been. Only at the conclusion of the launch did fragments of that story emerge, not from Linh himself, but through the words of the salon’s host, musician Duong Thu. With heartfelt candour, the musician revealed that Bui Xuan Linh had not only undertaken the translations, but had poured in personal time, energy and resources—travelling to England, the United States, and beyond—to collect materials and acquire original works in service of his vision for the Shakespeare Bookcase.
He contributed far beyond the translations, developing concepts, refining layouts, and overseeing the publication and distribution of Shakespeare’s plays for general readership. Alongside this was the painstaking translation of three substantial works of Shakespearean scholarship: William Shakespeare: Life and Works by Lois Potter, Shakespeare’s Comedies by Alexander Leggatt, and Shakespeare’s Tragedy by Claire McEachern.
In those final moments of an already brief gathering, as musician Duong Thu spoke of admiration and trust, Bui Xuan Linh remained quietly composed—treating it all, perhaps, as no more than a responsibility he was destined to shoulder. A path he was called to walk, without question or hesitation.
A journey from first thoughts, through years of research and realisation—two decades in the making.
A journey sparked when a fifteen-year-old boy stumbled across a passage from Macbeth in an English textbook. Now, years on, that spark has blossomed into something luminous: a Shakespeare for all time.
ABOVE A journey from first thoughts, through years of research and realisation—two decades in the making. Photo: Tatler Vietnam
Before the Shakespeare Bookcase came to be, had the works of the great poet ever been systematically translated or introduced in Vietnam, sir?
There had been earlier translations of Shakespeare’s plays, albeit not in great number, both in the North and the South. In the South, a few versions by Bui Giang were available, though to my mind, his personal imprint overwhelmed much of Shakespeare’s original artistry.
In the North, there was a more structured approach. At the time—when the country remained divided—Northern intellectuals were trained under the Soviet model, which meant deep engagement with the classics, especially Shakespeare. Scholars from the Northern Institute of Literature translated around a dozen plays with care and rigour. Yet, more than seventy years have passed since then, and those works are now scattered and lack coherence.
In 2000, the Hanoi Theatre Publishing House compiled and published two volumes—tragedies and comedies. It could be seen as a complete edition of sorts. However, the language felt outdated, the word choices and expressions difficult to follow. And those efforts focused solely on the plays; there were almost no translations of the wider body of academic and critical work—biographies, essays on Shakespeare’s artistic style, or in-depth studies.
I once came across such a book, though it was a translation of a Soviet edition, offering a rigid, ideologically framed view of Shakespeare. Published in 1976, it is likely no longer in circulation."
https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/impact/translator-bui-xuan-linh-william-shakespeare-en
#metaglossia_mundus
"Meta-owned popular messaging platform, WhatsApp, is now reportedly testing a new ‘message translation’ feature in its Android beta version 2.25.12.25. As the name suggests, this feature enables users to translate chat messages and channel updates directly within the app, according to a report by WABetaInfo.
It clearly aims to enhance cross-language communication while maintaining user privacy. Speaking of the working process, translations are processed locally on the user’s device, ensuring that message data is not sent to external servers.
To use this feature, users must download specific language packs – supported languages currently include Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese (Brazil), Hindi, and Russian. Even an optional language pack is also available for automatic detection of the message language, which is particularly useful in multilingual group chats.
Interestingly, users can activate the translation feature on a per-chat basis through the chat settings, allowing for automatic translation of incoming messages. Alternatively, individual messages can be translated manually by selecting the ‘Translate’ option.
However, since translations are handled on-device, they may not always match the accuracy of cloud-based services. But at the same time, this method ensures that end-to-end encryption is preserved, and user data remains confidential. This becomes significant considering earlier this year, the social media giant added a memory feature to its AI assistant – ‘Meta AI’. This feature enables the AI assistant to remember certain details that users share with it during one-on-one chats on WhatsApp and Messenger.
The platform also gives users the option to provide feedback on translations to help improve the feature, but no message content is shared with Meta unless explicitly submitted by the user. In terms of availability, the translation feature is gradually rolling out to beta testers and is expected to become available to all users after the testing phase completes.
The latest move is noteworthy as WhatsApp’s global user base has reached around 2.5 billion active users, with projections indicating a rise to 3.14 billion by the end of 2025. Also, India remains the largest market, with over 535.8 million users.
Meanwhile, the development comes at a time when the social media powerhouse is undergoing major regulatory challenges. Actually, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated a historic antitrust trial against Meta, aiming to compel the divestiture of WhatsApp and Instagram. The FTC contends that Meta’s acquisitions of these platforms were strategic moves to eliminate competition and establish a monopoly in the personal social networking market."
https://thetechportal.com/2025/04/20/whatsapp-begins-testing-in-app-message-translation-in-latest-beta-report/
#metaglossia_mundus
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The Finns know better. Kalsarikännit — loosely translated as staying in and getting drunk in your underwear — is just one of the many wonderful foreign words that have no direct equivalent in the English language.
Ever tried to make something better but accidentally made it worse? The Germans have a word for it, obviously: verschlimmbessern.
If you’re in the habit of buying new books while a pile of unread tomes gather dust at home, the Japanese have a word for that too: tsundoku.
Arabic, meanwhile, has a word, soubhiyé, to describe..."
#metaglossia mundus