The writer and his translators - 2013

Juan Kruz Igerabide: Untying the Knot
Donostia, 26th and 27th September, 2013
Wroclaw, 5th October (International Short Story Festival)
itzulika13.jpg

As part of its continual work in favour of literary translations from Basque into other languages EIZIE, with the collaboration of Etxepare Basque Institute, has organized a new edition of the translation workshop “The writer and his translators”.

This year's workshop will focus on literature for children and young people, amongst other things, and the participants will be working with Juan Kruz Igerabide's literary texts. Aritz Branton will translate them into English and Monika Czerny into Polish. Elizabete Manterola will coordinate the workshop.

Work will begin in Donostia on 26th and 27th September at the Carlos Santamaría Centre, and on 30th September, International Translators' Day, the results will be explained at a public event to be held at Koldo Mitxelena Culture Centre. The participants will offer readings of their work in three languages after discussing their experiences in the workshop.

Work will continue in Wroclaw, Poland, at the International Short Story Festival, on 5th October. Elizabete Manterola will coordinate a meeting with the author and his translator into Polish. They will talk about translation and will also offer a multilingual reading.

The Workshop

The translators will bring texts they have translated previously, as is customary, and during the workshop each of them will explain the reasons behind the various decisions taken while translating. The writer will be there himself to give explanations whenever there are doubts about the texts. In addition, particular features of the languages and cultures involved in the translation process will be discussed: nuances, difficulties in translating, interpretations, the translation of words specific to Basque culture and so on.

Participants

The Writer

Juan Kruz Igerabide (Aduna, Basque Country). Doctor in Basque Philology and Associate Member of Euskaltzaindia (the Royal Academy of the Basque Language), he is working at present at the Basque Language Service of the University of the Basque Country. Juan Kruz has written several books for adults, both poetry and prose, as well as aphorisms; but his greatest contribution has been literature for children and young people. He is also an experienced translator.

The Translators

Aritz Branton (Mancot Royal, United Kingdom). English Philology and European History graduate. As well as translating, he also writes articles about music and literature for The Balde and Entzun! magazines.

Monika Czerny (Szczecin, Poland). Spanish Philology and Basque Philology graduate. She works as a teacher and as a translator. She also took part in the 2011 Workshop, translating several passages from the play Aitarekin bidaian (Travelling with My Father) into Polish.

The Workshop Coordinator

Elizabete Manterola (Orio, Basque Country). Doctor in Translation; her thesis was about Basque literature translated into other languages. She created the ELI catalogue (Translated Basque Literature). At present she teaches translation at the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU).

Public Events

Open debate and trading in three languages

  • Donostia, 30th September 2013, Koldo Mitxelena Culture Centre, 19:00h.
  • Wroclaw (Poland), 5th October 2013, ELITE bookshop-café (International Short Story Festival).