CfP: Translation in the Digital Age - From Translation Tools to Shifting Paradigms

The time is past when digital technology in translation was no more than a supporting tool. The digital revolution is transforming the landscape of translation theory and practice. From translation memory tools to online corpora and databases, to machine translation and to cloud-based workspaces, technology is making translation more effective and time-efficient, while changing the roles and profiles of translators themselves. Furthermore, beyond enhancing and facilitating the translator’s work, the new technologies are making a profound impact on the very nature of our discipline. The conventional model of one-on-one agency and client is being replaced by a vast global network of faceless, and loosely connected, translators and customers, where the distinction between professional and non-professional translation is often blurred. New modes of translation, such as fansubbing, fandubbing, and crowdsourcing, are challenging the traditional structure of the translation market. Furthermore, translators (professional and otherwise) are using the new communication and collaboration tools to connect with other translators across geographical barriers, engaging translation in political, social causes on an unprecedented scale.

We believe that such developments call for new ways of theorizing translation theory and practice—be it pedagogy and training, translation tools and strategies, as well as the cultural and socio-political aspects of translation.

Thematic areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

Arabic translation in the digital age.

Translation and activism: online translator communities.

Collaborative translation.

Multimedia, and hypermedia translations

Translating/communicating the Digital Humanities

The changing face of the translation market: crowdsourcing, outsourcing fansubbing/fandubbing and non-professional translation

Online databases and corpora

Translation productivity software, ‘chunking’/micro-translations, collaboration tools and quality control

New developments in machine translation

Censorship/Manipulation in a digital age

New landscapes beyond translation proper

Transadaptation and transcreation

Submission of Abstracts

The languages of the conference will be Arabic and English. Proposals should be submitted via the link on the conference page (http://www.tii.qa/en/9th-annual-international-translation-conference-translation-digital-age-translation-tools-shifting).

Proposals should include the following elements:

• Applicant’s institutional affiliation and contact information, including email
• Abstract of at least 300 words which states:

An introductory statement that outlines the background and significance of the studyA short description of the basic methodology adoptedA clear indication of the major findings of the studyA concluding statement

• A short Bionote of no more than 100 words

The deadline for proposals is November 12th, 2017.

Papers accepted will be allocated 30 minutes in the program, which includes no more than 20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for questions/discussion.

Accommodation and travel costs:

CHSS will sponsor speakers; this will include economy flight tickets, accommodation, and transportation to and from the conference only. CHSS will also apply for the speakers’ visas; however the approval is subject to the State’s regulations.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Conference Organizing Committee at transconf@qf.org.qa.