Research on translation in legal and institutional settings is thriving and has considerably enriched the understanding of formal features, translation processes and functions of translations. This growth of knowledge has been achieved by translators, legal practitioners, social workers, officials as well as scholars interested in the enormous potential offered by this ancient, widespread and yet under-researched intellectual activity (Glanert 2014). Mainstream translation studies is opening up to issues such as the design of specific translation methods for legal and institutional literature, the translation of multilingual texts, and interdisciplinarity in legal translation (Prieto Ramos 2014). Conversely, governance studies focus on regulatory functions assigned to institutional translation (Kang 2014; Koskinen 2014; Schäffner et al. 2014), and the relations between translation and multilingualism. Legal studies as well as sociology and political philosophy have become strongly interested in translation as a carrier of legal concepts and systems across national borders, and as a token of linguistic justice (Van Parijs 2011), especially with regard to minority language groups (Branchadell 2005).
The aim of this conference is twofold. Firstly, it wishes to document the state of affairs of the expanding and interdisciplinary field of legal and institutional translation, by approaching the latter through the lens of ‘translation policy’. This umbrella concept, as derived from Spolsky’s view on language policy (Gonzalez Nuñez 2016), embraces many features of translational communication: rules, agency, practices and values. In addition, it enables framing of translation across the separate disciplines’ realm, and so becomes a binding factor between the study of forms and techniques, multilingual and transnational translation forms, issues of governance and linguistic justice. Taking stock of translation policy as applied to legal and institutional translation needs accounting for historical (Wolf 2015; Schreiber & D’hulst 2017) as well as contemporary ones, theoretical as well as applied approaches (Gonzalez Nuñez & Meylaerts 2017). Historical insight gained by case studies should offer a basis for comparison, and advance the understanding of the embedding contexts and societal impact of translation policies past and present (Lannoy & Van Gucht 2006). It further needs the investigation of policies construed not only in Europe and the Americas but also in the much less studied areas of Asia and Africa, and the generally overlooked eras before the 20th century (Beukes 2007; Baxter 2013).
Secondly, this conference aims at the development of interdisciplinary policies engaging translation studies, legal and institutional studies, and political philosophy. Present-day challenges such as the exponential spread of multilingualism going hand in hand with plural or hybrid forms of citizenship, or the political and societal integration of allophone minorities and immigrants in particular indeed raise new questions. How should one ensure better linguistic integration of minorities in national public spaces and beyond, safeguard equal access to institutions as well as to public and private goods and services, create an inclusive society with due respect for diversity?
In sum, in order to handle past, present and future translation policies with a focus on linguistic justice, minority rights, multilingualism or citizenship, this conference calls for the conjunction of several types of expertise: theoretical and applied, historical and modern, legal and institutional, philosophical and political. These types of expertise will be substantiated by contributions pooled under the following topics:
Translation policies and multilingualism
Translation policies in legal settings
Translation policies in institutional settings
Translation policies and citizenship
The organizers invite proposals from all disciplines, on all periods and geographical areas that may provide a significant contribution to historical and contemporary understandings of translation policies in legal and institutional settings. They especially welcome proposals containing prospects and ideas for future translation policies, such as the design of translation services for linguistic minorities (historical territorial minorities and immigrant minorities), or the role of translation policies in creating and securing linguistic and civil rights. Proposals may also deal with issues that offer overlap with several of the topics mentioned and relate to adjacent disciplines such as cultural, social and political history:
(How) is translation pitched as a means to effectuate a democratic regime (e.g. in a young, post-revolutionary nation-state)?
(How) were translations used to spread the idea of the nation and spark a patriotic or nationalist sentiment in the public at large?
How was translation perceived in general or political discourse?
With what other notions and values was it associated (e.g. equity, justice, injustice, equality, expenses, impracticality, danger...)?
Which qualities/vices were ascribed to it (explicitly or implicitly, in the shape of suppositions or doxa)?
Abstracts should be submitted by email by 1 February, 2018.
Length of submission should be between 500 and 700 words, including references.
Please do not forget to mention your name, affiliation and email at the top of your abstract.
You will be notified of acceptance by 1 April 2018.
Full details: https://kuleuvencongres.be/litp2018
Call for papers:Event: Conference on Translation and Religion: Multilingual Practices, Materialities and Lived Experiences.Date: May 2027.Place: University of Galway, Ireland. Potential topics:Multilingual communication in places of worshipDigital religion, technological mediation and translationVolunteer and paraprofessional translation and interpreting in religious contextsRitual, performance, and multimodal translationTranslation infrastructure in religious organisationsAccessibility and inclusion in religious communicationPositionality, access, and research ethics in religious fieldworkTranslation, religion and globalisationGender in religious translationCensorship and authorityRetranslation and religious changeChildren, education and religious translationMigration, diaspora and multilingual religious communitiesTranslation across religious/secular boundariesMaterial religion, objects and translational practicesMinority and heritage in religious contextsSacred space, place and linguistic landscapesPilgrimage, mobility and translationMissionary translation and language documentationFaith, ethics, and translator/interpreter agencyTranslation and religious conversionImportant Dates Abstract submission deadline: 15th December 2026 Notification of acceptance: 15th January 2027 Registration deadline: Feb 2027 Conference dates: May 2027Read more: https://lnkd.in/p/dQZuxrWp
Call for papers:Journal: Linguistica Antverpiensia, New Series – Themes in Translation Studies, Vol. 27, 2028About: This journal invites proposals for a guest-edited thematic issue exploring innovative and internationally relevant topics in Translation and Interpreting Studies. Proposals should present a clearly defined theme, research topics or questions, their relevance and originality, and the guest editors’ expertise in the proposed research area.Deadline for submissions: 8 November 2026.Read more: https://lans-tts.uantwerpen.be/index.php/LANS-TTS/announcement/view/29
Call for Papers:Journal: Special issue of Translation Studies on Translation as Post-occupational Practice? Guest editors: Lynne Bowker & Luis Pérez González. Theme: Contributions are invited for this special issue to critically engage with the themes of expertise, labour, and the post-economy. Deadline for abstracts: 31 October 2026Read more: https://cfp-translationstudies.my.canva.site/
Call for Papers:The Institute of Translation and Interpreting Studies (ITRI) at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will virtually host its 26th International Conference on Thursday, January 21, 2027.Theme: “Shifting Paradigms in the T&I Research Ecosystem.”With the advent of the generative AI era, significant changes are taking place across the research ecosystem of translation and interpreting. Research topics are expanding, and research methodologies are becoming increasingly diverse.Now is the time for translation and interpreting scholars to take stock of these ongoing changes in the research ecosystem and to explore how we can adapt to this evolving environment and help shape its development in a human-centered direction.Keynote Speaker: Ralph Krüger (TH Köln)Title: AI Literacy and Language AI Projects in EuropeSubmissions addressing a wide range of topics related to human and machine translation and interpreting are welcome, including but not limited to:Diversification of Research Topics and MethodologiesChanges in Research EthicsShifting Roles and Status of Translators and Interpreters·Changing Work Paradigms in Translation and InterpretingTranslator and Interpreter Education and Training·Translation/Interpreting and TechnologySubmitting a proposalIndividual proposals should be a minimum of 300 words.Proposal(s)may be submitted in English or Korean.All proposals should be accompanied by short bios (approx. 100 words) of the presenters.Please send all proposals via email to itri@hufs.ac.krDatesDecember 6, 2026: Proposal submission deadlineDecember 8, 2026: Proposal acceptance notificationJanuary 8, 2027: Paper submission (Microsoft Word or PowerPoint slides)For any inquiries, please email ITRI at itri@hufs.ac.kr.How to register as a participantConference registration is free.The online conference link will be posted on the ITRI homepage before the conference: http://itri.hufs.ac.krIf you wish to present, please check the information above and let us know of your intention to present in advance using the link below.https://forms.gle/gHeRWpyUDKGGfoZdA
Call for Translations (2026-2027):Journal: Society for Cinema & Media Studies (SCMS) – Translation/Publication Committee In collaboration with JCMS: Journal of Cinema and Media Studies The SCMS Translation/Publication Standing Committee welcomes two types of proposals: (1) a single text such as a journal article, book chapter, or self-contained section of a book that focuses on a particular topic in a unified, coherent way, or (2) a group of smaller texts that are linked thematically, regionally, or otherwise.Deadline:Proposals are due by October 23, 2026. Submissions should be sent to the Standing Committee Coordinator (committees@scmstudies.org) and cc: the SCMS Translation/Publication Committee Chair, Catherine Benamou (cbenamou@uci.edu).More details: https://www.cmstudies.org/page/comm_translation
