Translating the Middle Ages CFP

CALL FOR PAPERS

“TRANSLATING THE MIDDLE AGES”

AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
SPONSORED BY THE PROGRAM IN MEDIEVAL STUDIES
AND CENTER FOR TRANSLATION STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
OCTOBER 28 and 29, 2008

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS: 15 APRIL 2008



We invite submissions for papers on the theory and practice of translation
in the Middle Ages, including textual and visual translation. Who
translates what, how and why, and to what effect? Papers may address, for
example, genre and translation (poetic translations, romance, hagiography,
chronicle, scientific, or biblical texts—what gets translated), the
cultural context of translation (patronage, circulation, gender, canon
formation—who translates for whom), or the practice of translation in the
Middle Ages (dictionaries, the transition from manuscript to print, the
voice of the translator—how is translation performed in the Middle Ages).
**The scope is interpreted broadly to include Europe, Iceland, Byzantium
and the Islamic Mediterranean.** Featured speakers include Christopher
Kleinhenz, Brian Merrilees, Rita Copeland, Jeanette Beer, Lars Boje
Mortensen, Catherine Batt, and Aden Kumler.

An evening event will focus on translations of medieval texts and culture
by two renowned contemporary authors who will read from and discuss their
work: W. S. Merwin, poet and translator of Dante’s Purgatorio and former
U.S. poet laureate Robert Pinsky, translator of Dante’s Inferno.

Participants will submit completed papers by October 1 to be circulated to
the other members of their panel. Selected papers will be published in a
volume.

Deadline for receipt of abstracts (300 words): April 15. Notification of
acceptance by May 15.
Send abstracts and inquiries to:

Karen Fresco
Director, Program in Medieval Studies
kfresco@uiuc.edu