Translation Studies Research Seminar Series: PhD showcase

Abstracts

Ordinary Cup and Sacred Chalice—An Example of Institutional ‘Polyphony’ in English Retranslations of The Roman Missal

by David Hayes

New Testament scholars generally agree that the Greek word ‘ποτήριον’ (‘potērion’) in the Bible’s Eucharistic narratives refers to a clay drinking cup—as ordinary as present-day mugs—which was shared at table to emphasise the Eucharist as fellowship meal. In St Jerome’s Latin Vulgate Bible (late fourth century CE), however, ‘ποτήριον’ is translated by the technical word ‘calix’ rather than by everyday alternatives such as ‘poculum’ or ‘cuppa’. Despite this, different Catholic versions of the Bible in English (translated directly from the Latin Vulgate until the mid-1940s) have variously translated ‘calix’ as ‘chalice’ or ‘cup’ in the Eucharistic narratives. Similarly, successive English translations of these biblical sources in the prayers of the Latin Roman Missal—the book containing the Mass texts— have frequently translated ‘calix’ as ‘chalice’, sometimes as ‘cup’ and, in 2011, even as both.

Although a small lexical detail, I argue that both these translations are highly significant. On the one hand, ‘cup’ recalls the biblical narratives of the Eucharist as meal while, on the other, ‘chalice’ reflects subsequent theological ideologies of the Eucharist as ritual sacrificial offering, highlighting the sacred function of this vessel containing the consecrated wine. Without entering into a theological debate, I suggest that this example may illustrate what the TS scholar Jeroen Vandaele (forthcoming) terms a ‘big detail’ that significantly influences the meaning of a text. This highlights the importance of localised details in Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS), and also suggests that retranslation of The Roman Missal is necessary for the Catholic Church to articulate its polyphonic spiritual identity.

Gender violence in translated paratexts: does feminism sell? The case of Eartheater by Dolores Reyes and Dead Girls by Selva Almada

by Elisabeth Goemans

Argentinian women writers denouncing gender violence through literature are gaining international prominence, which is in no small part due to the transnational dissemination of their work in translation. When a literary work is translated, the paratexts often change: publishing houses design new covers, include new blurbs, and cross-reference different works in the summary. This transformation of paratexts influences the ways a narrative on gender violence is presented and perceived by the target audience, not only potentially obscuring certain interpretations but also proposing new ways of understanding the text.

In this talk, I will focus on the way translated Argentinian women’s writing is presented in the paratexts of the English translations. I will present two case studies, 'Cometierra/Eartheater' by Dolores Reyes and 'Chicas muertas/Dead Girls' by Selva Almada. I argue that Anglophone publishing houses centralise feminicide more than the Argentinian publishers. Moreover, the English paratexts make abundant use of terms related to feminist ideology to attract readers, even if the authors do not consider their work to be feminist. While this may enhance the activist commitment of the text, it also has ethical implications, which I will explore through feminist translation studies and the related concepts of visibility, agency, and social movement activism.

The Bible in the 'Language of the Quran': Competitive Norms Governing the Heterogeneous Christian Arabic Biblical Tradition

by Ahmed Alghamdi

In the Arabic language, which is sometimes associated with Islam, there exists a rich tradition spanning over a millennium, where Arabic-speaking Christians have actively engaged in producing religious literature and biblical translations. Within this extensive tradition of biblical translation, various trends have emerged, including diversity in translation approaches, and in the utilisation or avoidance of certain words, expressions, and stylistic features. What adds to the intriguing and fascinating nature of this tradition, with its inherent heterogeneity, is that it was created within diverse and complex contexts characterised by different forms of contestation and power dynamics.

This linguistic and stylistic diversity can offer valuable insights into the cultural conditions of their contexts, including the ever-changing power dynamics, the acculturation or isolation of certain groups, cultural dominance, and identity formation. Expanding the application of Translation Norms and Postcolonial Theory beyond their conventional, somewhat limited boundaries, this thesis undertakes an investigation of numerous Arabic Christian biblical translations in conjunction with various Christian non-biblical texts. The aim is to explore the primary reasons or norms that influenced the creation of these heterogeneous texts, featuring a diverse range of translational strategies, as well as linguistic and stylistic trends (especially concerning what some scholars occasionally refer to as 'Islamic Arabic'); all of this analysis is situated within the framework of what can be considered a ‘postcolonial context’.

About the speakers

David Hayes is a third-year PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, as well as a freelance translator working between French and English. His research focuses on liturgical translation in the Latin rite Catholic Church, looking in particular at French and English (re)translations of the Roman Missal. He holds degrees in botany/microbiology, theology and translation studies, graduating most recently with an MA in translation from The Open University (UK). This project is partly funded by the St Matthias Trust, UK.

Elisabeth Goemans obtained an MA in Western Literature and MA in Literary Translation at KU Leuven, Belgium. She is currently a third-year PhD student in Hispanic studies at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on the representation of gender and violence in contemporary Argentinian women’s writing, particularly Selva Almada, Mariana Enríquez, and Dolores Reyes. Her research interests include Latin American literature, feminism, masculinities, literary translation studies, and translation flows.

Ahmed Alghamdi is currently a PhD student in Translation Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He holds an MA in Translation Studies from Durham University. His research focus is on religious translation, linguistic identity, and translation-induced language change.

About the seminar series

Each semester, we welcome a fantastic range of guest speakers and colleagues to present a seminar on their work in translation.

Our seminar series is run collaboratively by staff and postgraduate students, enabling our early career researchers to build networks and experience. This semester, the students are Katherine Heller and David Hayes.

Entry is free and no booking is required. Everyone is welcome.

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