Translation Event, 5/12

Below you'll find the announcement for the translation event I mentioned in class. We'll be working in small groups to translate a short poem by the US Poet Laureate, in preparation for her visit to the college this fall. As the announcement says, we already have some English and foreign-language speakers signed up, but we need more help!

English-only speakers are welcome!

People who speak another language but have limited English skills are welcome!

This is a special form of translation that is very collaborative and conversational, so there's no pressure to be an expert in English or any other language. Because it's so collaborative, it will also be a good opportunity to meet other students and faculty! As I stated in class, I will offer extra credit to anyone who attends the session and works in one of the translation groups.

This is also a unique opportunity: I learned this form of translation during a visit to Centre de Poésie et Traduction, just outside of Paris. It has been performed in the US only a few times, to my knowledge -- all of them involving the French inventors of the form. Not many people know about it, but it is highly interesting and a lot of fun.

The event will take place next Wednesday (5/12) at 2:15 in E-103, and I think it's going to be very exciting. I hope some of you can make it! Please email me to RSVP in advance, so we can be sure to order enough refreshments. (You'll find my email address on the front of the course pack.)

--

Announcement: Translation Event 5/12 at 2:15 Room E-103

The Creative Writing Committee of the English Department will be holding an event, "Collective Translation at LaGuardia," on Wednesday May 12 during club hours. Please come to E-103, Rosemarie's Room (the large conference room) at 2:15 and be ready to have serious. intellectual. fun.

Staff, students, faculty, and administrators are ALL WELCOME!

You do *not* need to be an expert in a language. The idea of collective translation is that we need people with different levels of language skill, in as many languages as possible. That's all. We need English speakers (I, for example, ONLY know English and I am running this event!); we need people with moderate knowledge of some other language (ANY language you know, or used to know, or are just getting to know, etc.); and we need people with expert knowledge in any language. Participants will work in groups according to which language they work with, and each group will attempt to translate the same short American poem into their language.

So far we have signed up:

French

German

Chinese

American Sign Language

But what about Spanish? Spanish is one of the most prevalent languages at LaGuardia!

And how about Arabic, Farsi, Korean, Japanese, Zulu, Hausa, Hindi, or any of the other 160 languages spoken at LaGuardia?

And what about people who only know English? Am I going to be the only one? Do not be afraid "English only" people...you have a friend!

Whatever your interest, if you are coming please RSVP so I can order enough food for us.

& feel free to email me with any questions.

Yours,
Kristen Gallagher
English Department