Translation as Activism II: Exile, Censorship, and Alternative Histories

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Brief Description

his roundtable explores translation as a form of activism, resistance, and cultural preservation across historical and political contexts. Panelists examine how translation shapes narratives of exile, censorship, and alternative histories. Discussions include the complexities of rendering Anna Akhmatova’s metaphorical language—particularly on exile—in English translations, and the role of translation in Soviet Latvia, where Anglophone literature was introduced under ideological constraints during the Cold War. *Another presentation examines how translation shapes wartime narratives and global visibility through a case study of Kupiansk, a frontline city in eastern Ukraine. Drawing on the speaker’s work with the City Council and international organizations, it highlights how linguistic choices influence the portrayal of local experiences and political realities.* The roundtable also highlights Belarusian-to-English translation as an act of cultural resistance, preserving Belarusian voices often marginalized in global discourse. Finally, a discussion on Esperanto during WWI and the interwar period explores its counterhegemonic potential as a linguistic project aimed at fostering transnational solidarity. Together, these presentations illuminate translation’s power in shaping historical narratives and resisting oppression.

Sub Unit

• Linguistics/Language Pedagogy/Translation

Chair

• Bita Takrimi, Northwestern U

Roundtable Speakers

• Evita Badina, Daugavpils U (Latvia)

• Olya Ianovskaia, Grunwald Publishing

• David M.A. Parker, Carnegie Mellon U

• Bita Takrimi, Northwestern U

• Yelyzaveta Zolotarova, Independent Scholar