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EUROPEAN MINORITY-LANGUAGE LITERATURES

EUROPEAN MINORITY-LANGUAGE LITERATURES. translation and dissemination policy and practice Alexandra B üchler Sioned Puw Rowlands. Literature in translation. part of the richest creative industry – international publishing Trends literature = 30 – 70% of translated books

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EUROPEAN MINORITY-LANGUAGE LITERATURES

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  1. EUROPEAN MINORITY-LANGUAGE LITERATURES translation and dissemination policy and practice Alexandra Büchler Sioned Puw Rowlands

  2. Literature in translation part of the richest creative industry – international publishing Trends • literature = 30 – 70% of translated books • lack of diversity - homogenization of publishers’ “international” lists • English = no 1 source language (40 - 80%) • small source languages underrepresented

  3. Literatures written in “small” state languages and regional languages face the same problems in the international sphere • low political and cultural prestige • lack of awareness • lack of qualified readers in publishing • lack of skilled translators Need for systematic promotion and support

  4. What measures? • promotion • information point • publications,print and web • databases (translations, translators, authors) • mobility and professional development • translation subsidies – for publishers • infrastructure – translators‘ centres, literature venues, festivals • accessibility and transparency

  5. EU level • European Union • Foundations • National level • Key literature / book organisations • promotion, exchange, multilateral cooperation • information (print and on-line) • funding

  6. MAKING LITERATURE TRAVELSUPPORT FOR LITERARY EXCHANGE AND TRANSLATIONIN EUROPEsurvey conducted byAlexandra Büchler and Dr Sioned Puw Rowlandswith Budapest Observatoryas part of the Literature Across Frontiers programmefunded by Culture 2000 and the European Cultural Foundation

  7. SURVEY aims • map the field – infrastructure across Europe • establish recent trends in the publishing of translations • identify key bodies and organisations contributing to the circulation of literary works and professionals • examine their policies, practice and resources outcomes • comparative survey of support at national, regional and European level with a focus on key organisations in selected small countries • profiles: policies – implementation methods– resources • information – data – know-how • exemplary practice and projects • recommendations for measures that could improve the international dissemination of literature written in the smaller languages

  8. Scope Timeframe 1990 - 2004 Geopolitical EU & regional level National Profiles Finland, Greece, Ireland Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Slovenia (and overview of CEE countries) Catalonia, Basque Country, Wales (minority languages) Romania „Recipient“ countries Germany – France – United Kingdom

  9. EU programmes • Ariane 1996 (pilot) - 1999 • Culture 2000 • Culture 2007 ? • 1st generation programmes • Kaleidoscope - cultural creation and cooperation • Raphael – protection and promotion of heritage • Ariane – publishing and reading • Partnership projects • Professional development • Translation grants (literary, theatre and reference works) • Accompanying measures • Aristeion Prize

  10. Culture 2000 programme • Literature - Books and Reading • Annual • Multiannual • Experimental actions (discontinued) • Cooperation projects • Translation grants

  11. Translation grants • Criteria • 20th century – post war • EU official languages • minimum 4 – maximum 10 works • publish in 18 months • Publishers‘ responses • low awareness of programme • misinformation about criteria • perceived as too complicated • EU languages restriction • prioritization of less-diffused languages as target? • only first-time translations • time frame too short • late payment of grant • other stages in the process should receive support – • sample translations, printing and marketing costs

  12. Spending?TOO LOW Culture 2000 spending – translation grants

  13. Culture 2007 programme contents and budget ??? European Forum for Arts and Heritage and European Cultural Foundation 70cents for culture campaign www.efah.org

  14. EU effect – redressing imbalances? Distribution by source and target language

  15. National level • Ministry of Culture & Foreign Affairs • e.g. Italy, Spain – bilateral agreements – large events • Literature or Book Centre (arms-length organisations) • e.g. Nordic countries, Netherlands, East and Central Europe • dedicated organisation • independence • flexibility • specialized staff - personal relationship with the field • „one-stop shop“ • point of contact • source of information • funding • more likely to be known to publishers • and participate in multilateral transnational projects and partnerships

  16. Minority-language literatures Provision for minorities in general Support for the field of literature and books e.g. Finland, Catalonia, Wales, Ireland Cross-border minorities e.g. Netherlands, Hungary, Slovenia

  17. Catalonia and Wales • Both next to a major language and powerful publishing industry • Horizontal decentralization - competence in cultural matters devolved clash • International cooperation remit – some at regional level • EU cultural cooperation remit at national level

  18. Catalonia Barcelona - centre of Spain’s publishing High international cultural profile Political support for international cultural projection (e.g. guest of honour) Support for language-teaching around the world – large no of speakers Projection as a country rather than region

  19. Catalonia Catalan language and culture – single language • Institucio de les Lletres Catalanes • Institut Ramon Llull vs national level • Instituto Cervantes • Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport

  20. Wales • fewer speakers – 600,000 (20%) • weaker international profile as a region and culture • publishing in the shadow of England • large-scale, high-profile cultural interventions difficult to implement • Not in a position to sign cooperation memoranda beyond regional level

  21. Wales • Welsh literature support = bilingual • Wales Arts International (1997) partnership between Arts Council and British Council • Welsh Literature Abroad (2000) vs British Council – promotion of English language & British culture

  22. Irish Presidency Seminar “Bringing Europe to Book” discussion paper by Michael Cronin Reports by governments on support for literary promotion and translation Representation Spain – Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport Wales – Welsh Assembly

  23. Literature Across Frontiers (LAF) is a programme ofinitiatives aiming to advance European cultural exchange in the field of literature and to enhance the work of organisations engaged in the international promotion of literature and support for literary translation, and particularly to: • promote literatures written in the less widely used languages of Europe • encourage their translation and publishing • stimulate debate on policy and practice affecting this area • develop innovative approaches to promotion, support for translation and small-language translator training • create opportunities for collaboration and sharing of experience and resources amongst organisations operating in this field

  24. LAF Activities • debates, seminars and conferences • translation and writing workshops • involvement in international literary events • participation in book fairs • research ands collection of relevant data • publication of Transcript • – European Internet Review of Books and Writing • www.lit-across-frontiers.org • www.transcript-review.org

  25. LAF Partners = LAF Network LAF base at Mercator Centre (UK) Partners: BookWorld Prague Books from Lithuania Center for Slovenian Literature Estonian Literature Centre FILI – Finnish Literature Centre Croatian Book Centre Commitee for the Promotion of Basque Literature Fund for the Promotion of Icelandic Literature Hungarian Translation Fund Latvian Literature Centre Portuguese Institute of Books and Libraries Ireland Literature Exchange – NORLA Norwegian Literature Abroad Polish Book Institute Institut Ramon Scottish Poetry Library Welsh Literature Abroad.

  26. LITERATURE ACROSS FRONTIERS and minority-language literatures • Raising awareness • Placing minority-language literatures in new contexts • Creating new opportunities for translation • Facilitating cooperation among organisations • Inclusion of minority-language literatures • Basque, Catalan, Irish, Welsh, Gaelic, Scots, Shetlandic • Also Slovenian in Italy, Russian in Latvia etc.

  27. Examples • Individual authors presented in new contexts – e.g. Slovenian author Boris Pahor at the Gothenburg Book Fair, Welsh-language authors at the Leipzig Book Fair • Ireland, Scotland and Wales – guest of honour at the Prague Book Fair 2004 • Committee for the Promotion of Basque Literature • Transcript – European Review of Books and Writing – Basque issue

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