Translation in Early Modern Diplomacies: Between Tradition and Innovation
La traduction dans les diplomaties de l’époque moderne : entre tradition et innovation
Published on Friday, June 23, 2023
Abstract
The early modern period was a time of burgeoning diplomatic activity on the European continent characterized by the spread of resident diplomacy and the appearance of peace congresses. Linguistic practices were changing dramatically as well, including Latin, German and Italian progressively overshadowed by French as a pan-European medium of diplomacy. All these developments had a considerable impact on translation in diplomacy, affecting its functioning and role in various ways. We would like to adopt a transnational and interdisciplinary viewpoint and consider the subject on the basis of new primary sources in the broad context of the development of translation and the evolution of diplomacy in the early modern period.
Announcement
Presentation
The early modern period was a time of burgeoning diplomatic activity on the European continent characterized by the spread of resident diplomacy and the appearance of peace congresses. Linguistic practices were changing dramatically as well, including Latin, German and Italian progressively overshadowed by French as a pan-European medium of diplomacy. All these developments had a considerable impact on translation in diplomacy, affecting its functioning and role in various ways: translation departments were formed or expanded and redesigned, and the need to train translators in order to increase efficiency of foreign policy began to be felt by major powers. This eventually resulted in the foundation of schools for would-be translators and diplomats, and the development of various practices such as the linguistic training of »giovanni de lingua« or »jeunes de langues«. These innovations allowed early modern diplomacy to cope, at least to a certain degree, with an important increase in diplomatic contacts which led to an ever-growing diplomatic correspondence. However, some of these initiatives, such as the foundation of specialized schools, have been short-lived and have not led to sustainable results. Living and working in a multilingual and multicultural environment, translators often were cultural brokers with hybrid cultural identities. We would like to adopt a transnational and interdisciplinary viewpoint and consider the subject on the basis of new primary sources in the broad context of the development of translation and the evolution of diplomacy in the early modern period.
The questions which are of interest for the workshop include, but are not limited to the following:
- Traditions and innovations in the organization of diplomatic translation services;
- State and non-state actors and the formation of policies regarding translation in diplomacy;
- The role of translation in diplomats’ careers;
- Early modern institutions and practices for training translators and interpreters;
- (Hybrid) Identities of interpreters and translators and their role as cultural brokers;
- Lack of translating personnel and attempts to bypass such difficulties;
- Accuracy of translations and problems resulting from translators’ incompetence in diplomacy;
- Distrust of translators and interpreters, translation and secrecy in diplomacy, translators as negotiators;
- Translation in diplomatic relations with non-European powers;
- The role of translators in the formation of diplomatic, political and juridical terminology in vernacular languages.
Submission guidelines
We invite researchers to submit their proposals (an abstract of 500 words and a short biography) to the following addresses: VRjeoutski@dhi-paris.fr
- Deadline for submission of proposals: September 15, 2023.
- Notification of acceptance: September 25, 2023.
The organisers will cover travel costs and accommodation for one night. For any enquiries regarding the workshop, please contact: VRjeoutski@dhi-paris.fr
Working languages: English and French (without translation).
Organizing committee
- Dr Vladislav Rjéoutski (DHIP)
- Prof. Dr Guido Braun (University of Upper Alsace)
Subjects
- History (Main category)
- Mind and language > Language > Linguistics
- Mind and language > Representation > Cultural history
- Periods > Early modern > Sixteenth century
- Mind and language > Thought > Intellectual history
- Periods > Early modern > Seventeenth century
- Periods > Early modern > Eighteenth century
- Society > History > Social history
Places
- Institut Historique allemand à Paris - 8 Rue du Parc Royal,
Paris, France (75)
Event attendance modalities
Hybrid event (on site and online)
Date(s)
- Friday, September 15, 2023
Attached files
Keywords
- diplomacy, translation, early modern history
Contact(s)
- Vladislav Rjeoutski
courriel : vrjeoutski [at] dhi-paris [dot] fr
Information source
- Vladislav Rjeoutski
courriel : vrjeoutski [at] dhi-paris [dot] fr
License
This announcement is licensed under the terms of Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal.
To cite this announcement
« Translation in Early Modern Diplomacies: Between Tradition and Innovation », Call for papers, Calenda, Published on Friday, June 23, 2023, https://doi.org/10.58079/1bg2
