About ICSCAT
All the basics
- Background
In recent times translation has taken on a more central role in societies, whether in India or in the rest of the world. Far from being considered as only a linguistic activity, it is now seen as bridging, and sometimes broadening, gaps between different cultures.
In Translation Studies, the socio-cultural dimension has been taken into account. It has been shown translation may bring new inputs into local cultures to the extent that it may even reshape them. It may develop national cultures to the detriment of more regional ones, or the reverse, or also play ambivalent roles. In contexts where many languages coexist, its role as a vehicle for mediation and communication is sometimes questioned as it may elevate one language to a higher status while downplaying the others. It may reinforce jingoism or enculturation, prejudices or awareness of differences.
In other words translation modifies, or preserves, the perception of the other. Hence, translating as an activity and translation as the result of this activity are inseparable from the concept of culture. From this viewpoint, words are not taken for themselves but for their communicative functions. Translation methods and strategies, different linguistic systems and their constraints in terms of meaning and construction, worldviews, etc. are still analyzed, but in so far as they reveal and contribute to a particular case of intercultural communication.
Besides, translations never only affect words. Texts do not appear on their own but accompany or are accompanied by pre-textual elements such as book covers, figures, diagrams, colour, real products, etc. so that translation studies should analyze translations in their overall environments.
As can be seen, the concept of translation that is developed here is all-embracing. Is translation only an inter-linguistic process or does it also constitutes an inter-semiotic activity across cultures and languages?
The time has now come to analyze and estimate the socio-cultural value of translation in terms of its contribution to the receiving cultures, and also the translated cultures at times. One of the possibilities to understand a culture is to learn its language(s) and the sign systems operating within it. Another complementary one is to study what parts of it are preserved in translating. Besides being a daily activity, translation is thus a means for understanding and maybe improving inter-linguistic, inter-semiotic and intercultural communication. The question whether cultural synthesis can be achieved deserves attention.
Aim of the conference
This international conference would like to bring together Indian and non-Indian perspectives on translation with a view to setting up a platform for discussion, comparison and long-term collaboration. It aims to analyze how different cultures interact and interfere with one another through translation.
Venue
Centre for Study of Foreign Languages, School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Hyderabad is the capital city of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India, and is served by an international airport. Read more about Hyderabad here, or visit this local guide.
- Prof J Prabhakara Rao Co-ordinator
Centre for Study of Foreign Languages
School of Humanities
University of Hyderabad
Hyderabad, 500046, INDIA
+91-40.23133650
pjandhyala1@gmail.com
