The politics of translation in the plans for the standardization of the Basque language of the Basque Administration
Translation: Kristin Addis
Abstract
The politics of translation is one of the key points of the standardization of the use of Basque in the Basque Administration but unfortunately, actual politics are not consistent with those set out officially in the plans, which often seem to be nothing but a declaration of intentions. One clear proof of the lack of will to enforce a serious policy of standardization is the long-standing tendency of the administrative branches to confuse the spheres of the use of Basque with those of translation, either hybridizing the job of standardization manager with that of translator, or substituting the use of Basque by workers for the work of the translator.
Another way in which translation acts as an obstacle rather than a dynamic instrument of Basque standardization stems from a mistaken diagnosis of the situation of the language and from undervaluing its social context; this leads to an exclusively negative vision of the existing diglossia and as a result, to inadequate strategies. It is not only futile but also detrimental to insist on the production of texts for environments in which the language has no functional presence. Given the diglossic situation of Basque, translation policy should propound standardization primarily to shore up a weak and hesitant production of texts, and limit to a large extent explorations beyond the areas in which the Basque community has a certain social network; standardization can not precede the functional extension of the language.
Clearly, the process of standardization of Basque in the various administrative branches is limited in each of its territories by a pre-existing condition: it is essential to obtain a certain threshold or sufficient density of the social use of Basque in the social networks that support administrative activity. The reason for this seems obvious: given that the administrative structures stand on the higher networks of the social network, their support for the most part depends on the multiple and varied activities that form the social network.
