First Call for Papers
International Conference
“Role of Translation in Nation Building, Nationalism and Supra-
nationalism” New Delhi, December 16-19, 2010
Jointly organized by
Indian Translators Association and Linguaindia Foundation
“Nation Building” has always been linked to national integration and the creation of national identity. For a country like India, it is a very delicate and challenging matter to deal with a national identity that derives its strength from its multiple layers of social, political, religious, economic, cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity. However, the communication gap which inevitably arises out of such a diversity of boundaries is constantly being bridged by the people themselves, whose day to day reality is, for the majority, living in a multi-cultural society and interacting in a multilingual manner.
We should not forget that the concept of the nation-state is not an ancient or indigenous one but a notion imported relatively recently from Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. The United Kingdom only became “united” through the Act of Union in 1702 when England (and Wales) and Scotland merged politically. We should acknowledge that when America famously declared independence from Britain in 1776, this fledgling state initially contained only a tiny fraction of the area it has today. Similarly, Italy and Germany were not unified until the middle of the 19th century.
In India, the impact of this colonial myth has been that many educated people accept that the idea of India as a nation is a British creation. However, a detailed study of linguistic history reveals that Bhartiyata (Indianness) is not by any means a recent phenomenon; it is deeply rooted in its citizens across the country since ancient times.
It was, we might argue, the existence and subsequent translation of the great Indian classics that acted as a catalyst in creating a pan-Indian ethos. Epics – especially the Ramayana and the Mahabharata - have been translated into almost all regional languages. Cutting across religious beliefs, the legends of Rama and Krishna have stirred the minds of Indians living in almost all corners of India. These myths, whose nature is patently nationalistic, were made available to the Indian population through translation, without which it is inconceivable that the deeply entrenched cultural and linguistic boundaries within India could have been bridged.
Translators have always played a pivotal role in social and cultural change in society and they continue to play a major role in dissemination of the ever expanding knowledge and information available today. The role of translation becomes more important in the Indian context as this new knowledge spreads to all corners of Indian society with their mosaic of sub-cultures and sub identities spread across different linguistic regions, their literature and their lifestyles.
Until the eighties, scholars and translators were more focused on the translation of literature and administrative texts which were mainly aimed at national and regional consumers. Ever since the communication explosion of the nineties, however, the demand for translation and language related services has increased many times over. Translation is not only needed for the creation of national identity but has also become an essential tool for keeping pace with the processes of globalization and localization.
The six decades since the end of the Second World War have seen an explosion of (intra) national development, as nation after nation gained independence or restructured their societies and (re)defined their identities. Paralleling this has been equally dramatic development at the inter national level, with the growth of supra national identities: the European Union immediately after the war and, later, trade blocks such as NAFTA, SAFTA, MERCOSUR, SICA, ANDEAN PACT, ASEAN, BRIC, IBSA.
Most observers take for granted the translator's crucial role at the (intra) national level but are less aware of their equally pivotal place as mediators at the international and, potentially, in the creation of the even larger and comprehensive global supra national identities which seem destined to follow in the future.
Moreover, it has become almost mandatory for content producers to translate their text into different languages in order to both globalize and localize their reach. Whether it is a matter of bilateral relations or multilateral relations between countries or a matter related to international conferences, buyer-seller meets, corporate mergers, buyouts, technology transfers or joint ventures, translation is always a necessity without which such communication would fail.
In a rapidly changing world, the demands on the translator are also changing. Translators can no longer rest on their laurels but, like any other service provider, must continuously upgrade themselves by coming to terms with an ever developing technology (including IT resources such as CAT tools) and adapting to increasingly stringent professional demands involving good commercial practice and the implementation of quality standards.
It follows that there is an urgent need to regularize translation by professionalizing its providers and according them an appropriate status which will further the developmental opportunities of the country as a whole.
In this, India can (and should) follow the lead of many nations including Australia, Canada, China, and South Africa which have already set up regulatory systems.
This, inevitably, depends on action by the government, educational institutions, and professional bodies and it is now the task of the emerging profession to pressure those with the political and economic power to make such changes.
With this background, the International Conference on “Role of Translation in Nation Building” will focus on the following themes.
FOCUS AREAS/ THEMES
• National Identity and Translation
• National Integration and Translation
• Diplomacy, Nation Branding and Translation
• Cultural Diversity and Translation
• Spirituality and Translation
• Government Policies towards Translation and Languages
• Channels of Communication and the Mass Media
• Teaching and Training in Translation and Interpreting
• Theoretical Approaches to Translation
• Translation and Interpreting as a Profession
• The role of the Translation Service Providers
• Public Service Interpreting (Legal, Medical, Social Services)
• Intra- and Inter-Cultural communication: links for minority groups and minority cultures
• Quality Standards in Translation
• Terminology Management & Project Management in Translation
• Scientific and Technical Translation
• Commercial Translation
• Translation Business and Outsourcing
• The Publishing Industry and Translation
• Copyrights in Translation: Theories and Practices
• Content Management
• Globalization & Localization in the Context of Translation
• Machine and Memory Tools in Translation
• Technology and Innovation in Translation
CALL FOR PAPERS
Organizing Committee invites papers on the aforementioned themes. Abstract (400 words) should be submitted by August 30, 2010. While submitting your abstract kindly mention Title of your Paper and also attach your brief profile along with your contact details and e-mail ID. Please send your abstract, paper and queries to ITAINDIA Secretariat at info@itaindia.org Or Call at: +91-11-26291676 / 41675530 Mobile: +91-9911162461/ +91-9810268481 Web: www.itaindia.org
KEY DATES
Deadline for submission of abstracts: August 30, 2010
Notification of acceptance: September 05, 2010
Deadline for submission of final papers: September 30, 2010
Payment of early registration: September 15, 2010
Payment of late registration: to be specified in the second announcement.
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
• Two days main conference with keynote speakers and concurrent tracks
• Pre and Post-conference day with workshops, roundtables and job fairs for smaller groups
• Exhibit area with leading tool and service providers
• Showcase of leading national and international language and cultural institutions
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
• Teachers, Professors and Educators and researchers involved in translation
• Translators, interpreters and language professionals
• Language students (Indian as well as foreign languages)
• Heads and Managers of BPOs and Research agencies
• Heads and Managers of translation and interpretation agencies
• Heads of organizations involved in language training
• Content writers, localisation and globalisation managers
• Representatives of publishing houses
• Editors, Proof-readers
• Buyers of translation and interpretation services
• CAT Tool Service Providers
• Quality Control Managers
CATEGORY OF DELEGATES FEES Per participant (Below mentioned fees applies for early bird (Conference fees includes session fees, Tea & Lunch, delegates
registration until September 15, 2010) are requested to arrange for their travel & lodging on their own)
Corporate / Company or Institutional Representatives INR 7500/-
Translators / Interpreters / Writers/ Language Professionals / INR 2500/-
Teachers/ Professors / Scholars / Agencies / Publishers
Foreign Delegates $150 US Dollars*
Note: Conference Venue and Program to be informed in due course of time
All fees to be paid by Demand Draft / Cheque payable at par / Cash in favour of Indian Translators Association payable at New Delhi. Address: K-5/B, Lower Ground Floor, Kalkaji, New Delhi -110019 Tel: +91-11-26291676/ 41675530 Mobile: +91-9911162461/ +91-9810268481 Web: www.itaindia.org
International Participants kindly get in touch with the Secretariat, Indian Translators Association, K-5/B, Lower Ground Floor, Kalkaji, New Delhi -110019 Tel: +91-11-26291676/ 41675530 Mobile: +91-9911162461/ +91-9810268481 E-mail: info@itaindia.org for International Bank Transfers / online payment via Credit Card or alternate options. * Additional transaction charges of $ 25 US dollars applies for each transaction.
Sponsorship, institutional and financial support solicited. Interested individuals/organizations kindly get in touch with the secretariat of Indian Translators Association on above address
or CALL US at Mobile: +91-9911162461/ +91-9810268481
More information here.
International Conference
“Role of Translation in Nation Building, Nationalism and Supra-
nationalism” New Delhi, December 16-19, 2010
Jointly organized by
Indian Translators Association and Linguaindia Foundation
“Nation Building” has always been linked to national integration and the creation of national identity. For a country like India, it is a very delicate and challenging matter to deal with a national identity that derives its strength from its multiple layers of social, political, religious, economic, cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity. However, the communication gap which inevitably arises out of such a diversity of boundaries is constantly being bridged by the people themselves, whose day to day reality is, for the majority, living in a multi-cultural society and interacting in a multilingual manner.
We should not forget that the concept of the nation-state is not an ancient or indigenous one but a notion imported relatively recently from Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. The United Kingdom only became “united” through the Act of Union in 1702 when England (and Wales) and Scotland merged politically. We should acknowledge that when America famously declared independence from Britain in 1776, this fledgling state initially contained only a tiny fraction of the area it has today. Similarly, Italy and Germany were not unified until the middle of the 19th century.
In India, the impact of this colonial myth has been that many educated people accept that the idea of India as a nation is a British creation. However, a detailed study of linguistic history reveals that Bhartiyata (Indianness) is not by any means a recent phenomenon; it is deeply rooted in its citizens across the country since ancient times.
It was, we might argue, the existence and subsequent translation of the great Indian classics that acted as a catalyst in creating a pan-Indian ethos. Epics – especially the Ramayana and the Mahabharata - have been translated into almost all regional languages. Cutting across religious beliefs, the legends of Rama and Krishna have stirred the minds of Indians living in almost all corners of India. These myths, whose nature is patently nationalistic, were made available to the Indian population through translation, without which it is inconceivable that the deeply entrenched cultural and linguistic boundaries within India could have been bridged.
Translators have always played a pivotal role in social and cultural change in society and they continue to play a major role in dissemination of the ever expanding knowledge and information available today. The role of translation becomes more important in the Indian context as this new knowledge spreads to all corners of Indian society with their mosaic of sub-cultures and sub identities spread across different linguistic regions, their literature and their lifestyles.
Until the eighties, scholars and translators were more focused on the translation of literature and administrative texts which were mainly aimed at national and regional consumers. Ever since the communication explosion of the nineties, however, the demand for translation and language related services has increased many times over. Translation is not only needed for the creation of national identity but has also become an essential tool for keeping pace with the processes of globalization and localization.
The six decades since the end of the Second World War have seen an explosion of (intra) national development, as nation after nation gained independence or restructured their societies and (re)defined their identities. Paralleling this has been equally dramatic development at the inter national level, with the growth of supra national identities: the European Union immediately after the war and, later, trade blocks such as NAFTA, SAFTA, MERCOSUR, SICA, ANDEAN PACT, ASEAN, BRIC, IBSA.
Most observers take for granted the translator's crucial role at the (intra) national level but are less aware of their equally pivotal place as mediators at the international and, potentially, in the creation of the even larger and comprehensive global supra national identities which seem destined to follow in the future.
Moreover, it has become almost mandatory for content producers to translate their text into different languages in order to both globalize and localize their reach. Whether it is a matter of bilateral relations or multilateral relations between countries or a matter related to international conferences, buyer-seller meets, corporate mergers, buyouts, technology transfers or joint ventures, translation is always a necessity without which such communication would fail.
In a rapidly changing world, the demands on the translator are also changing. Translators can no longer rest on their laurels but, like any other service provider, must continuously upgrade themselves by coming to terms with an ever developing technology (including IT resources such as CAT tools) and adapting to increasingly stringent professional demands involving good commercial practice and the implementation of quality standards.
It follows that there is an urgent need to regularize translation by professionalizing its providers and according them an appropriate status which will further the developmental opportunities of the country as a whole.
In this, India can (and should) follow the lead of many nations including Australia, Canada, China, and South Africa which have already set up regulatory systems.
This, inevitably, depends on action by the government, educational institutions, and professional bodies and it is now the task of the emerging profession to pressure those with the political and economic power to make such changes.
With this background, the International Conference on “Role of Translation in Nation Building” will focus on the following themes.
FOCUS AREAS/ THEMES
• National Identity and Translation
• National Integration and Translation
• Diplomacy, Nation Branding and Translation
• Cultural Diversity and Translation
• Spirituality and Translation
• Government Policies towards Translation and Languages
• Channels of Communication and the Mass Media
• Teaching and Training in Translation and Interpreting
• Theoretical Approaches to Translation
• Translation and Interpreting as a Profession
• The role of the Translation Service Providers
• Public Service Interpreting (Legal, Medical, Social Services)
• Intra- and Inter-Cultural communication: links for minority groups and minority cultures
• Quality Standards in Translation
• Terminology Management & Project Management in Translation
• Scientific and Technical Translation
• Commercial Translation
• Translation Business and Outsourcing
• The Publishing Industry and Translation
• Copyrights in Translation: Theories and Practices
• Content Management
• Globalization & Localization in the Context of Translation
• Machine and Memory Tools in Translation
• Technology and Innovation in Translation
CALL FOR PAPERS
Organizing Committee invites papers on the aforementioned themes. Abstract (400 words) should be submitted by August 30, 2010. While submitting your abstract kindly mention Title of your Paper and also attach your brief profile along with your contact details and e-mail ID. Please send your abstract, paper and queries to ITAINDIA Secretariat at info@itaindia.org Or Call at: +91-11-26291676 / 41675530 Mobile: +91-9911162461/ +91-9810268481 Web: www.itaindia.org
KEY DATES
Deadline for submission of abstracts: August 30, 2010
Notification of acceptance: September 05, 2010
Deadline for submission of final papers: September 30, 2010
Payment of early registration: September 15, 2010
Payment of late registration: to be specified in the second announcement.
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
• Two days main conference with keynote speakers and concurrent tracks
• Pre and Post-conference day with workshops, roundtables and job fairs for smaller groups
• Exhibit area with leading tool and service providers
• Showcase of leading national and international language and cultural institutions
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
• Teachers, Professors and Educators and researchers involved in translation
• Translators, interpreters and language professionals
• Language students (Indian as well as foreign languages)
• Heads and Managers of BPOs and Research agencies
• Heads and Managers of translation and interpretation agencies
• Heads of organizations involved in language training
• Content writers, localisation and globalisation managers
• Representatives of publishing houses
• Editors, Proof-readers
• Buyers of translation and interpretation services
• CAT Tool Service Providers
• Quality Control Managers
CATEGORY OF DELEGATES FEES Per participant (Below mentioned fees applies for early bird (Conference fees includes session fees, Tea & Lunch, delegates
registration until September 15, 2010) are requested to arrange for their travel & lodging on their own)
Corporate / Company or Institutional Representatives INR 7500/-
Translators / Interpreters / Writers/ Language Professionals / INR 2500/-
Teachers/ Professors / Scholars / Agencies / Publishers
Foreign Delegates $150 US Dollars*
Note: Conference Venue and Program to be informed in due course of time
All fees to be paid by Demand Draft / Cheque payable at par / Cash in favour of Indian Translators Association payable at New Delhi. Address: K-5/B, Lower Ground Floor, Kalkaji, New Delhi -110019 Tel: +91-11-26291676/ 41675530 Mobile: +91-9911162461/ +91-9810268481 Web: www.itaindia.org
International Participants kindly get in touch with the Secretariat, Indian Translators Association, K-5/B, Lower Ground Floor, Kalkaji, New Delhi -110019 Tel: +91-11-26291676/ 41675530 Mobile: +91-9911162461/ +91-9810268481 E-mail: info@itaindia.org for International Bank Transfers / online payment via Credit Card or alternate options. * Additional transaction charges of $ 25 US dollars applies for each transaction.
Sponsorship, institutional and financial support solicited. Interested individuals/organizations kindly get in touch with the secretariat of Indian Translators Association on above address
or CALL US at Mobile: +91-9911162461/ +91-9810268481
More information here.
