Edited by Carme Mangiron (Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona) and Mária Koscelníková (Constantine the Philosopher University)
The video game industry has become a worldwide phenomenon, generating millions in revenue every year. Video games are increasingly becoming more elaborate and sophisticated, with advanced graphics and intricate story lines, and developers and publishers need to reach the widest possible audience in order to maximise their return on investment. Translating games into other languages and designing games that can be played for a wide spectrum of players, regardless of their (dis)ability, are two obvious ways to contribute to increasing the audience for the game industry. In addition, games are increasingly being used for “serious” purposes beyond entertainment, such as education, and such games should also be designed inclusively, to facilitate access to them by all types of players.
Research on game localisation and accessibility has been gaining momentum in recent years. In particular, the number of studies analysing game localisation from different perspectives has increased dramatically, while game accessibility remains a relatively unexplored topic.
This issue of L10N Journal will cover the following topics. Proposals about related topics are also welcome:
Please send your articles to the editors of the issue, Carme Mangiron (Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona) and Mária Koscelníková (Constantine the Philosopher University) at editorial@l10njournal.net with the subject: “L10N Journal Game Insights 2024” by 31st January 2024. The author guidelines can be found here. The publication of the issue is planned for June 2024.
For more information, click here.
Call for Papers:Event: 2027 CIUTI ConferenceTheme: Racing the Machine or Reclaiming the Narrative: Human Agency in a Tech-Driven ProfessionDate: 20–21 May 2027 Venue: Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, BelgiumSubmissions are welcome on, but not limited to, the following themes:Historical, contemporary and future developments in machine translation technologiesThe implications of technological development for translation theoryTranslator training, curriculum design and pedagogical innovation in the age of AIQuality norms, evaluation frameworks and “fit-for-purpose” translationAccessibilityReconfigurations of professional identity (translator, post-editor, language specialist)Translation policy, governance and institutional responses to AI integrationIMPORTANT DATES29 January 2027 — Abstract submission deadline26 February 2027 — Notification of acceptance23 April 2027 — Registration deadline20–21 May 2027 — CIUTIBXL27 International Conference, Université libre de Bruxelles, BrusselsMore info: https://lnkd.in/p/dwWtJ3Ge
Call for Papers:Event: European Association for Machine Translation Conference (EAMT 2027)Date: 3-6 May 2027Place: BarcelonaIMPORTANT DATES:Paper submission deadline: 31/01/2027Rebuttal Period: 8-11/03/2027Notification to authors: 24/03/2027Submitted manuscripts should be in the following categories: Research: TechnicalTranslators and UsersImplementation and Case studiesProducts and ProjectsMore details: https://www.eamt2027.org/calls/
Call for Papers: Journal: Special Issue of Babel Translation as Participation: Rethinking Human Agency in the Platform Era Guest Editor: You Wu, East China Normal University Topics inluded: How does translation operate as a participatory practice in platformed cultural environments, and how are forms of agency in translation reshaped by fandom, affective investment and community norms under such conditions?How do platforms structure, incentivize, gamify and govern participatory translation practices (for instance, through gamified designs such as metrics, rankings, rewards and visibility mechanisms)?How are identities, forms of belonging and mediated publics constituted through participatory translation practices?How are core concepts such as authorship, responsibility and agency rethought under conditions of collective and distributed translation?How does participatory translation intersect with forms of digital labour, playbour and unpaid/underpaid cultural production?How do ethical tensions emerge from participatory translation practices shaped by platform logics? Submission and ReviewAll full manuscripts will be subject to rigorous double-blind peer review. Acceptance of an abstract does not guarantee acceptance of the full manuscript. Prospective contributors are invited to submit an abstract of approximately 300 words, together with a short bio-note, to the guest editor at [email protected]. Tentative Timeline• Abstract submission deadline: December 31, 2026 • Notification of abstract acceptance: February 28, 2027 • Full manuscript submission deadline: November 30, 2027 • Peer review and revisions: December 2027–May 2028• Expected publication: Mid to late 2028, subject to the journal’s production schedule
Call for papers:Event: International Symposium: (Re)thinking the Margins of Translation.Place: Universitat. Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona.Date: 20-21 May 2027About: This symposium invites scholars to explore how current transformations, emerging technology, and shifting power dynamics redefine the margins across the theory, history, sociology, and practice of translation.Key dates:Deadline for submissions: 20 January 2027Notification of acceptance: 12 February 2027Deadline for registration (no fees applied): 28 February 2027Symposium dates: 20-21 May 2027More detailshttps://www.upf.edu/web/traduccio/w/international-symposium-re-thinking-the-margins-of-translation:
Call for papers:Event: Translation, Space and Power: Reconfiguring the Geographies of Cultural Production.Place: University of TriesteDate: 26–28 April 2027Topics:Reconfiguring Space and Place in Translation− Translation in contact zones and multilingual urban environments.− The deterritorialization of language communities and the emergence of “translation spaces” (Simon, 2018).− Digital and “disembodied” formats (Littau, 2016) and their impact on translation’s spatial logics.− Translation practices straddling multiple geographical locations, e.g. institutional, legal, and news media translation.Translation, Power, and Diplomacy− Translation as a vehicle of soft power and cultural diplomacy: shaping images of nations, regions, and identities.− National and supranational translation policies shaping perceptions of space.− Historical dynamics of cultural and translation policiesFlows, Markets, and Networks− Mapping translation flows in global publishing and audiovisual markets.− Source-initiated and supply-driven translations and the translocal life of texts.Beyond Source–Target Dichotomies− Translation within communities that simultaneously act as source and target.− New trajectories of linguistic exchange in a post-globalized world.Abstract deadline: 15 October 2026More details: https://tsp2027.units.it/call-for-papers.html#ImportantDates
