International Translation Day: Book Launch and Discussion
Date: Tuesday 30th September
Time: 4:00pm – 5:30pm, followed by a light reception
Venue: Hardiman Research Building, G011
How is translation like an endurance sport? What’s it like to write a character who operates outside your comfort zone? How does translation fit into the day job? And what’s Brendan the Navigator doing in Dover?
In celebration of International Translation Day, the Emily Anderson Centre for Translation is showcasing two new works of fiction in translation by colleagues from the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Join us for the Irish launch of Ulrike Draesner’s compelling novel Channel Swimmer, translated from German into English by the Executive Dean of Arts, Professor Rebecca Braun. Rebecca will discuss this ‘labour of love’ (in her words) alongside Dr Bianca Cataldi, a literary translator, who recently joined the University of Galway as a Lecturer in Italian and has just completed a translation into Italian of JP McHugh’s Fun And Games.
Director of the Emily Anderson Centre, Prof. Anne O’Connor will lead a conversation with both translators, including readings that give a flavour of the work.
Reporting back on the day: Translation can pack a room alright at the Anderson Centre for Translation Research and Practice: a full house on International Translation Day! 🎉 Our Dean, Rebecca Braun, and colleague Bianca Rita Cataldi gave us a masterclass in expert, engaging translation German → English (Ulrike Draesner’s Kanal Schwimmer / Channel Swimmer) & English → Italian (JP McHugh’s Fun And Games / Italian title TBA). Director Anne O’Connor, kept the energy high with a pitch-perfect performance of a dialogue between a couple of County Mayo Gaelic football lads. It is always so nice when guests pair their craft and scholarship with something we value every bit as much: a really good sense of humour! Fun times.
