[Commlist] cfp: Modernity in Translation

*Call for Papers*

**

*Modernity in Translation*

**

*Guest Editors*

Professor Mustafa Riad, Ain Shams University, Egypt

Professor Tarek Shamma, Binghamton University, New York, USA

**

*Journal: **/Encounters in translation/**//**– /Rencontres en 
traduction/* <https://publications-prairial.fr/encounters-in-translation/>**

/Diamond open access:
free for authors, free for readers/

*Languages of submission*

Proposals may be submitted in French or English. Submissions in other 
languages may also be considered, subject to confirmation by the editors

***

**

Translation throughout history has been a major channel for knowledge 
transfer, but in modern times modernization in the Global South has 
often taken the form of a unidirectional process—importing from or 
copying the West. This special issue of /Encounters in translation – 
Rencontres en traduction /seeks to explore the complex relationship 
between translation and the experience of modernity, often linked, but 
not limited to, the colonial experience. It also seeks to examine how 
translation has shaped and been shaped by the historical and ongoing 
processes of colonialism and its aftermath.

We welcome contributions on the following topics:

*Enforcing and resisting colonial power dynamics:*Translation may be 
examined as a tool for colonial dominance (e.g., enforcing legal 
systems, promoting assimilation, suppressing indigenous languages) and 
as a site of resistance (e.g., reviving national identity, disseminating 
nationalist ideas, challenging colonial narratives). Examples can be 
drawn from various regions that went through a colonial modernization 
process, such as India, Africa, the Americas, Ireland, Algeria, and 
South Africa.

*Navigating cultural dependency and identity:*Exploring the complex 
relationship between translation and modernization, particularly in the 
context of cultural dependency, in a manner that illuminates the role of 
translation in facilitating the transfer of knowledge and ideas, and its 
impact on the development of indigenous cultures and identities. A key 
concern is the extent to which the translation of (Western) knowledge 
for the purpose of ‘modernization’ has been equated with 
‘westernization’. What defines a translated concept or a cultural 
practice as ‘modern’, as opposed to ‘new’, ‘foreign’, or simply ‘western’?


*Strategies for equitable knowledge transfer:*Is it possible to conceive 
of the transfer of ideas, schools of thought or literary genres 
independently from the cultural contexts that gave rise to them? This 
process requires an exploration of the dividing line between 
cross-fertilization, mutual acculturation, and cultural domination and 
imitation. We welcome contributions that investigate translation 
practices that can facilitate particular forms of knowledge transfer, 
especially those that defy (post)colonialist or Eurocentric pressures.

*Shaping and negotiating individual and collective identities in 
postcolonial societies:*This sub-theme encompasses the role of 
translation in shaping individual and collective identities in 
postcolonial societies, including the negotiation of power relations and 
cultural recognition. Examples can include the translation of Western 
literature into Indian languages, indigenous oral literature into 
English, and Creole languages into European languages.

*The emergence of new cultural forms in a modernized world:*Examining 
the emergence of new cultural forms and identities through translation 
addresses the tensions between homogenization and particularization in a 
modernized world. Examples can include the Bengali Renaissance in India, 
the Negritude movement in Senegal, the development of Taglish in the 
Philippines, and the challenges of translating cultural products from 
marginalized communities.

*Ethics and social justice in translation:*Examining the ethical 
implications of translation in postcolonial contexts includes addressing 
its role in promoting human rights, ensuring access to information, 
fostering cultural diversity, and decolonizing knowledge production. 
This can involve critical reflection on translation choices and 
advocating for more equitable and inclusive practices.

*Decolonizing discourse:*Examining the limitations and potential harm of 
positionality statements in decolonization efforts, particularly when 
they reinforce colonial patterns of knowledge production and representation.

/Encounters in translation – Rencontres en traduction/invites 
submissions that explore the intersection of translation and a wide 
range of disciplines, including postcolonial studies, critical race 
theory, anthropology, medical humanities, and cultural studies. We 
encourage submissions that adopt a resolutely transdisciplinary 
approach, drawing on insights from multiple fields to illuminate the 
complex and multifaceted nature of translation. Possible topics include, 
but are not limited to, the role of translation in shaping postcolonial 
identities, the impact of translation on race relations, the use of 
translation in anthropological research, the shaping of the culture of 
scientific discourse at different historical and cultural junctures, and 
the contribution of translation to cultural (mis)understanding.

We welcome submissions from scholars at all stages of their careers and 
are interested in papers that offer new theoretical insights and/or that 
present innovative case studies. We particularly welcome contributions 
that critically examine the concept of modernization, especially those 
that expand the discussion beyond traditional Western perspectives.

*Timeline*

Deadline for submission of synopses (1000 words): 1 July 2025

Selected contributors notified of acceptance of abstracts: 1 August 2025

Deadline for submission of full contributions: 31 October 2025
Confirmation of provisional acceptance of contributions: 15 November 2025

Publication date: November 2026

**

*Contact:*

Professor Mustafa Riad: (mrmriad /at/ art.asu.edu.eg) 
<mailto:(mrmriad /at/ art.asu.edu.eg)>

Professor Tarek Shamma: (tshamma /at/ binghamton.edu) 
<mailto:(tshamma /at/ binghamton.edu)>

A digital version of this call for papers is available here 
<https://publications-prairial.fr/encounters-in-translation/index.php?id=935>


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