The development of Slovene translatological thought against the background of translational and intercultural exchange between Slovenia and the USA


2014-2015

 
 

    Translation has had a seminal influence on the development and formation of Slovene language and literature: it actively contributed to the very formation of the language and to literary production. The decisive influence of translation can be found in all the major genres: Slovene prose was formed to a great extent on the basis of the first Protestant translations of the Bible into Slovene in the 16th century; the first non-religious Slovene dramatic works from the 18th century were also translations; and even the most prominent examples of Romantic poetry from the 19th century were formed in many respects through translations. Since translation has played such an important role in Slovenia’s cultural development, some of the most prominent figures of Slovene culture, in particular after the Spring of Nations in 1848, have reflected on the important role of translation in the cultural development. Although the translational exchange was traditionally strongest with German culture, the trend changed in the 20th century, so that translations from English today surpass by far translations from all other languages.

    The aim of the project is to focus on the following three topics:

a)translational exchange between the Slovene and American cultures

b)the formation of the Slovene national translatorial field and

c)the emergence of   culturally-specific translatological thought


    The translational exchange between the Slovene and English will be defined by examining which works created by Slovenes were translated and published in the United States and vice-versa; what was the reception of these works, which genres were translated, what was the influence of translated literature on the cultural development of the cultures in question, etc.

    The formation of a national translatorial field will be examined by defining the main actors in the fields: from the most prominent translators to the most influential publishing houses, patrons of translation projects, etc.

    The emergence of culturally specific translatological thought will be outlined by examining the metatexts that accompanied the prominent translations of the period: i.e., the introductions, postscripts, forwards and other texts, in which the translators or theoreticians expressed their thinking on translation. The collaboration with Professor Baer in this field will be especially fruitful since he is one of the most prominent scholars working in the field of Eastern and Central European Translation Studies. 

 

Description of the project

Scientific Cooperation Between the Republic of Slovenia and the United States of America