>
>Subject: CFP: Translation as Commentary (France) (5/15/06; Paris 
>Sorbonne Conference, 10/13/06-10/14/06)
>From: Maryvonne Boisseau <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>CALL FOR PAPERS
>
>CENTRE DE RECHERCHE EN TRADUCTION ET COMMUNICATION TRANSCULTURELLE
>ANGLAIS-FRAN=C7AIS / FRAN=C7AIS-ANGLAIS
>TRACT - PARIS 3 SORBONNE NOUVELLE
>
>Translation as Commentary
>Going from translation as commentary to commenting on translation
>
>It is widely recognized that translating a text implies more than just
>reading and transferring the original text into another language. It
>requires that the translation be conducted "from a certain point of =20
>view",
>even though this point of view may not be fully conscious, so that the
>result constitutes an unwitting commentary on the original text. Not =20
>only is
>the translator unaware of the process involved, as he is convinced =20
>that he
>is producing the best, if not the definitive, translation of the =20
>text, but
>so also is the reader who turns to the translated version because he is
>unable to understand the original text. It is also recognized that new
>translations of the text will inevitably appear sooner or later, with =20=
>
>each
>new translation broadening the scope of the initial version, =20
>revealing other
>facets of the text, delivering its meaning, rhythm and concerns in a
>different way. As new translations appear, the potential of the text is
>gradually made obvious, articulating differences which, =20
>paradoxically, are
>only obvious to those readers who are able to have access to the =20
>original
>text and do not need a translation. It is precisely this aspect of =20
>unwitting
>commentary that calls for exploration and acknowledgement so that the
>inexpert reader, who cannot have access to the text in its original
>language, may become aware of it.
>Thus "scholarly" translation is gradually enriched, developing its =20
>own gloss
>and becoming a commentary on itself, making sure that every turn of =20
>phrase,
>every divergence and every daring choice is explained. By turning into a
>commentator on his/her own effort and uncertainties, the translator, who
>addresses a reader supposedly lacking expertise, paradoxically tends =20
>to mask
>the hidden commentary actualized through his/her translation. These
>sometimes polemical attempts at justification tend to present the
>translation as "the final truth" of the text, even though it is =20
>undoubtedly
>only a temporary version.
>Therefore, it seems essential to explore and delineate the overlapping
>conceptual fields of justification, explanation, gloss, comment and
>commentary. According to Antoine Berman, the commentary " =20
>'actualizes' the
>potential contained in the text itself" up to the point where it departs
>from the text and becomes autonomous by acknowledging its function. =20
>In the
>same way, the various translations and re-translations can be =20
>considered as
>a system of texts which form an "un-actualized" or "un-actualizable"
>commentary. Taken as a whole they make up an undefined text, which is =20=
>
>not
>contained in either of them but which is a kind of "hypertext" that =20
>emerges
>as their common horizon.
>
>Hidden commentary, explanatory commentary, critical commentary: it is a
>whole range of different kinds of commentaries which the act of =20
>translation
>calls forth. The contrastive study of original texts and their
>translation(s) should bring these various forms of commentary to =20
>light and
>show how they emerge and articulate their differences, how they may shed
>light on, or mask, the text they are supposed to uncover, explain and
>assess.
>
>The colloquium will be held on 13 -14 October 2006 at the Institut du =20=
>
>Monde
>Anglophone
>
>Proposals of circa 300 words in French or English, should be sent by =20
>15 May
>2006 at the very latest to :
>
>Christine Raguet ([log in to unmask])
>Maryvonne Boisseau ([log in to unmask])
>Institut du Monde Anglophone
>Universit=E9 Paris III - Sorbonne Nouvelle
>5, rue de l'=C9cole de M=E9decine
>75006 Paris
>
>The papers will be published, after acceptance by the editorial =20
>board, in
>Palimpsestes, N=B0 20=
>
>

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