Event series
Translators’ Stammtisch

Literary translators – and translators more generally – are often forced to spend the majority of their time alone, glued to their computers and/or dictionaries. Though many translators are very sociable creatures who enjoy passionate discussions about foreign languages, native tongues, culture, society, politics and (even) grammar! The Translators’ Stammtisch [German; a regular’s table, usually in a pub] is offers a monthly opportunity for literary translators (mainly working into English, though open to translators of all language combinations) to get together and discuss their work and other joys and issues related to literary translation.

We'll continue last semester's topic of "border crossing and bridge-building", which will include discussions on the role of translation and translators as intercultural mediators, through communicating between different language variants, political convictions, ideologies, in times of war and peace and (EU) political upheavals. This term, we'll particularly be looking at the way in which texts and their interpretations might change across historical borders: Why do classics get retranslated? How do you translate a living and how a dead author? How much historical context is necessary for a translation to "work"?

Our first meeting of the term on Tuesday, 27th February will be introduced with a talk by German translator Douglas Irving, who recently translated GDR writer Anna Seghers. He will be talking about his experience in translating a deceased author and will share advice on how to find a publisher for a project.

The events - further details of which can be found in the calendar below - are free to attend.

If you are interested in attending one or all the meetings, please sign up on our Eventbrite page.
You are also invited to join our Facebook page via the link to the right.

Contact: Rebecca DeWald via library-glasgow@goethe.de