Translation Slam – Athens

There was lively discussion at the translation slam last night, a proper feast for any proper language nerd:

Wednesday, December 9
19:30–21:30
Hellenic-American Union Auditorium
Massalias 22, Athens
Admission free

Have you ever wondered how a literary translator works? How much can different translations of the same text really differ? Is there one correct answer to every question arising in a translation?

To illuminate these questions, HFC organizes, in cooperation with the Panhellenic Association of Professional Translators, Graduates of the Ionian University (PEEMPIP), the Hellenic American Union and the Hellenic American College (HAEC), a Translation Slam – a translation workshop with a twist and open to the public.

Two experienced translators, Alexis Kalofolias and Niki Prodromidou, will each give a bid on how to translate a passage from the short story “The Ones Who Walk away from Omelas,” by Ursula Le Guin. Translators and the audience are invited to identify similarities and differences and the translators will argue and defend their choices, in dialogue with the public. The “referee” will be Cleopatra Elaiotriviari, translator and board member of  PEEMPIP. The aim of this bloodless battle is not to highlight the winners and losers, but to reveal to readers some ‘hidden’ aspects of the unknown, complex and seductive “transfusion” of a literary text from one language to another.