Translation as an Alternative Space for Political Action

Authors

  • Cristiane Roscoe-Bessa Departamento de Línguas Estrangeiras e Tradução, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil.
  • Flavia Lamberti Departamento de Línguas Estrangeiras e Tradução, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil.
  • Janaína Araújo Rodrigues Departamento de Línguas Estrangeiras e Tradução, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7968.2018v38n2p339

Abstract

This article examines the genesis, dynamics and positioning of activist groups of translators and interpreters who engage in various forms of collective action. The activism of these groups is distinctive in that they use their linguistic skills to extend narrative space and empower voices made invisible by the global power of English and the politics of language. They further recognise that language and translation themselves constitute a space of resistance, a means of reversing the symbolic order. Their use of hybrid language, their deliberate downgrading of English, the constant shuffling of the order and space allocated to different languages on their websites — all this is as much part of their political agenda as their linguistic mediation of texts and utterances produced by others, in their capacity as translators and interpreters. The article examines the positioning of these groups vis-à-vis what Tarrow (2006, p. 16) terms ‘the new generation of global justice activists’ on the one hand, and professional translators and interpreters on the other, and argues that they occupy a ‘liminal’ space between the world of activism and the service economy.

Author Biographies

Cristiane Roscoe-Bessa, Departamento de Línguas Estrangeiras e Tradução, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil.

Possui Doutorado em Linguística pela Universidade de São Paulo (2006), Mestrado em Linguística Aplicada pela Universidade de Brasília (2000) e Bacharelado em Tradução-Inglês pela Universidade de Brasília (1988). É professora adjunta da Universidade de Brasília onde atua na graduação em Letras-Tradução e no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Estudos da Tradução. Universidade de Brasília. Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil. 

Flavia Lamberti, Departamento de Línguas Estrangeiras e Tradução, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil.

Flávia Cristina Cruz Lamberti Arraes possui graduação em Letras-Tradução - Inglês pela Universidade de Brasília (UnB) (1995), mestrado em Lingüística pela UnB (1999) e doutorado em Lingüística pela UnB (2006). Tem experiência na área de Lingüística, com ênfase em morfologia lexical e terminologia. O principal objeto de pesquisa é o desenvolvimento de estudos terminológicos de apoio à prática da tradução especializada, com o apoio de ferramentas de auxílio à tradução e uso de programas para a constituição e análise de corpora. É professora adjunta do Departamento de Línguas Estrangeiras e Tradução, da área de tradução inglês-português, e do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Estudos da Tradução da Universidade de Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil. 

Janaína Araújo Rodrigues, Departamento de Línguas Estrangeiras e Tradução, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil.

Janaína Araújo Rodrigues. Aluna do Estágio Supervisionado Tradução Inglês, no 2o. semestre de 2014,  na  graduação em Letras-Tradução da Universidade de Brasília. 

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Published

2018-05-11

How to Cite

Roscoe-Bessa, C., Lamberti, F., & Rodrigues, J. A. (2018). Translation as an Alternative Space for Political Action. Cadernos De Tradução, 38(2), 339–380. https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7968.2018v38n2p339

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 2 (2018): Edição Regular

Section

Translated Articles

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