In recent years, the translation world has seen a surge in conversations about how privilege and identity intersect with the work of translating texts. There's a growing belief that translators and authors should share similar backgrounds to create more authentic translations. However, this idea isn't always straightforward. Many translators have global multilingual identities, while the authors they translate don't necessarily share this experience. Though it's essential to make the translation profession more inclusive, we need a two-pronged approach that fosters solidarity and fairness while we address access to the profession.
Translation is a powerful way to amplify voices across the globe, making it a key tool for building international solidarity. But there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Here, we explore the realities of translation work and how translators can contribute to social justice.
Translation and Power Dynamics
The power imbalance in translation has been a topic of discussion for at least a century. Traditionally, translations have been made between prestigious national languages like French, Spanish, and English, sidelining regional varieties like Québécois Joual or US Spanglish as well as racialized ways of speaking. It's crucial for translators to be deeply connected to the communities, and acutely aware of the real experiences that inform the work of the authors they translate if they are to minimize some of these inequities.
The Amanda Gorman Case
A recent controversy highlights these complexities. When the US National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman's poem "The Hill We Climb" was set to be translated into Dutch, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, a nonbinary, white author, was chosen for the task. As Gorman was a Black woman who commented on the Black US experience this decision sparked backlash. Critics argued that a Black translator might better capture Gorman's experiences of oppression and marginalization. Rijneveld stepped down, showing sensitivity to the issue.
This situation raises an important question: Do translators need to share the same identity as the authors they translate? At the time, the American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) issued a statement, which is no longer available online, against restricting translators in this way. After all, identity overlap does not guarantee an overlap in worldview. So, given this quandary, what can be done?
Guiding Questions for Ethical Translation
To navigate these challenges, translators and editors can ask themselves three key questions:
Who is the source text for and who will read the translation?
Authors write for specific audiences. Those audiences may be very broad, or they may be fairly narrow. The tendency with translations has traditionally been to open texts up to broad audiences. While this may work well for profit-minded publishers, it may undermine the original text. This is particularly true when authors seek to comment on the classist, racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise oppressive structures around them.
What is the translator's connection to the source community?
Understanding the culture and nuances of the source community is crucial. It takes a great degree of self-awareness and humility, on the part of a translator, to recognize when one is not the best person for the task. Being a member of a community helps a great deal, however there are also a great many translators who will put in the work to render a community accurately; and there are those who don't.
How can translators and editors support equity and solidarity?
Solidarity in translation means acknowledging power imbalances and working towards fair representation. This can involve prioritizing translators from marginalized communities or ensuring that translations uphold the social justice goals of the original text. This also means ensuring fair compensation and recognition for translators to make translation a sustainable career. Solidarity also means recognizing when you aren't the best person for the task.
Conclusion
Translation isn't just about converting words from one language to another; it's a powerful way to amplify voices and promote solidarity. As we navigate the complexities of identity and the way that privilege manifests in translation, we must adopt practices that support fairness and justice. By considering the target audience, understanding the source community, and promoting solidarity, translators, and the editors who employ them, can significantly contribute to social justice.
In our interconnected world, translators do more than just translate—they bridge cultural gaps and amplify marginalized voices. As we continue these important conversations, let's stay mindful of the power dynamics and strive to create a more equitable and just world through translation.
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Blog published May 2024, adapted from:
Attig, Remy. (2023) “Translation, Equity, Solidarity” PMLA. Vol. 138, No. 3, 741-47. DOI 10.1632/S003081292300038X