Gratiaen Trust presents “Doubling Ourselves” – an online workshop on translation
View(s):The Gratiaen Trust, in association with John Keells Foundation, will hold an online workshop on translation on Saturday, March 6. The workshop is supported by the Department of English of the University of Peradeniya and the Seagull School of Publishing, Kolkotta.
‘Doubling Ourselves’is designed for aspiring and experienced translators of Sinhala and Tamil literature into English. This practical, one-day workshop facilitated by accomplished Sri Lankan translators, will give participants crucial insights into successful translations of literary works, combining talks on translation and interactive, assignment-based, feedback-oriented sessions conducted in parallel for Sinhala and Tamil translation into English.
The sessions will also include talks on how to publish translations.
One of the big attractions will be a session conducted by the Seagull School of Publishing. Affiliated to Seagull Books, one of the world’s leading publishers of translations, the session will guide participants on publication and successfully negotiating relationships between authors and publishers. Naveen Kishore, founder of Seagull Books, a stalwart in the world of publishing and much sought after speaker will deliver the keynote speech.
This workshop, which is the first activity of the Gratiaen Trust for 2021, coincides with the presentation of the H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for Translation which will be awarded later this year. The Trust has two flagship awards, the annual Gratiaen Prize recognising the best creative English writing by Sri Lankan writers resident in the country, and the H.A.I. Goonetileke award for Translation, which is presented every two years.
Translations of Sinhala and Tamil literature into English is of particular interest to the Gratiaen Trust because it enables local literatures to transcend language boundaries and enjoy a wider readership. Chairperson of the Gratiaen Trust, Professor Neloufer de Mel noted that Michael Ondaatje’s vision in establishing the H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize was to recognize translations as an important way of learning about different perspectives and cultures, bringing about a greater understanding between communities. Sri Lanka has a wealth of literary works in Sinhala and Tamil, and good translations of these works into English will demonstrate their depth and breadth to readers of literature in English within Sri Lanka and beyond, she added.
Entries for the workshop must be emailed to gratiaenworkshops@gmail.com by February 15, 2021. Participants will need a good command of English and Sinhala or Tamil, good digital literacy and access to uninterrupted internet connectivity and good computer facilities. Further, all participants must be Sri Lankan citizens who are resident in Sri Lanka.
For more details on how to apply visit www.gratiaen.com