Translation as a Process of Resistance, Resilience and Activism
The Case of Palestine and the Broader Arab Region
Call for Contributions:
“Translation as a Means of Resistance, Resilience and Activism: The Case of Palestine and the Broader Arab Region”
Recent research has increasingly focused on the intersection of activism and translation. Shwaikh’s 2020 chapter on the Gaza Strip highlighted the importance of language in war zones and the power of translating oppressed voices. Mona Baker pioneered translators’ activism in the Arabic-speaking region through seminal publications (2006a, 2006b, 2010, 2016a, 2016b, 2018, 2020). Scholars like Doerr (2018), Evans and Fernández (2018), Fernández (2020a), Valdeón and Calafat (2020), and Tesseur (2022) have expanded on this work. Juli Boéri (2010, 2019, 2020) and others have explored translation’s social and political impact in shaping worldviews. This “activist turn” in translation studies has driven scholarly interest to this crucial area (Wolf, 2012).
Activist translators and interpreters amplify oppressed voices through language and translation (Baker, 2013). Translators can influence political and social change by introducing new knowledge and ideologies. This visibility, manifested through the deliberate inclusion of personal views in translations, can challenge dominant narratives and mobilize readers (Tymoczko, 2010).
In the Web 2.0/Translation 2.0 era, translation has become more social, introducing concepts like crowdsourcing, online translation, fansubbing, and volunteer translation (O’Hagan, 2009; O’brien, 2011a; Brabham, 2013; Jiménez-Crespo, 2017; Krimat, 2021). Web 2.0 has revolutionized activist translation by facilitating real-time collaboration and content dissemination. The Arab Spring exemplifies how language and translation, magnified by Web 2.0, shaped narratives (Baker, 2016; Morgner & Aldreabi, 2020). This has also impacted Arabic, framing the concept of “e-Arabic” (Daoudi, 2011a, 2011b, 2017; Daoudi & Federici, 2011). As Web 3.0 and AI technologies advance, activist translation is likely to reach new dimensions, opening novel research pathways.
We announce a call for contributions to an edited volume on “Translation as a Means of Resistance, Resilience and Activism: The Case of Palestine and the Broader Arab Region.” This book will explore translation’s role in empowering activist movements, fostering resilience, and resisting oppression in the Arab region, focusing on the Palestinian struggle.
Scope and Themes
We invite proposals on topics including:
- Feminist translation in resistance: highlighting Arab women’s wartime experiences and political activism.
- Translation as a witness to atrocities and support for resistance movements.
- Case studies of translation projects supporting Arab activism.
- Volunteer translation’s impact on activism and community engagement.
- Strategies for translating local voices to global audiences.
- Ethical considerations in translating politically sensitive texts.
- Translation’s impact on international solidarity with just causes, particularly Palestine.
- Historical perspectives on translation and Palestinian resistance.
- Intersection of translation, media, and activism in struggle narratives.
- Challenges faced by volunteer translators in conflict zones.
- Translation as cultural resistance and preservation for the oppressed.
- Crowdsourced translation networks in social and political activism.
- Digital-age translation mobilizing support for just causes.
- Web 2.0 and activist translation efforts.
- AI and machine translation in activism: benefits and challenges.
Working languages: Arabic, French, and English.
Submission Guidelines
We welcome contributions from Translation Studies, Cultural Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science, Media Studies, and related fields. Both theoretical and empirical studies are encouraged. Submissions should be original and unpublished.
Proposal Submission
Submit a 500-word abstract outlining your proposed chapter’s scope and main arguments, with a brief bio (100-150 words) to n.krimat@univ-boumerdes.dz by 30/09/24.
Timeline
Abstract Submission Deadline: 30/09/24
Notification of Acceptance: 30/10/24
Full Chapter Submission: 30/04/25
Expected Publication Date: 31/12/25
Contact Information
For queries, contact the editors at [email address].
We look forward to exploring the intersection of translation, resistance, resilience, activism, and volunteerism in Palestine and the broader Arab region.
Co-editors
Dr. Anissa Daoudi
University of Birmingham, UK
a.daoudi@bham.ac.uk
Dr. Noureddine Krimat
University of Boumerdes, Algeria
n.krimat@univ-boumerdes.dz
