“Translation as a subversion: the case of Latin America”. Seminar given by: Georges L. Bastin (Université de Montréal)

Summary:

Jorge Luis Borges said that translation is “a reading and a rewriting that are irreverent to the legacy of the past”. This irreverence, employed by several translators from Latin America, was translated in imitations, adaptations, appropriations, rewritings and even plagiarism. It is an intentional and evident subversion.

This conference will show the importance of this subversion in Latin America through case studies that date back to the first years of colonial era. Three types of subversion will be discussed. Firstly, the subversion displayed by the translator, which manifests both in the choice of the texts and in the employed translation strategies.

Secondly, the subversion displayed by the editors, also in the choice of the texts and in the employed editing strategies.

And lastly, a type of subversion that can be exerted by the translatologists. It is the case of the texts characterised by a Eurocentric vision of Latin America.

More information about the seminar “Translation as a subversion: the case of Latin America”.