Programmes
Translators in Residence
Join our two Translators in Residence as they present a dynamic programme of events and activities to take translation to new and unexpected places.
As part of our wider translation programme supported by the Gulbenkian Foundation, we've welcomed two talented translators into our London home to bring translation to life. In overlapping residencies running from January to June 2013, they’ll both be abuzz with activity at Free Word, online and beyond. We’ll be keeping this page fresh with all their latest news, events and online content so you can stay up to date – or you can follow them on Twitter at @Ayserin and @Brockollie.
Ollie Brock is a literary translator and an editor at openDemocracy, who works with both Spanish and French, and hopes to show there’s much more to translation than swapping one word for another. With events focusing on translation across cultures, in the media, through choreography and into sign language, plus translated essays on free speech, he’ll be lifting the lid on translation processes of all kinds. From January to April, you'll find him at Free Word every Friday.
Canan Marasligil is a writer, literary translator, editor and screenwriter with a passion for comics. She’ll be focusing on contemporary Turkish writing and thinking, looking at translation as a creative process we can use to understand the cultural and political climate of other countries. With a strong digital presence to her residency, Canan will be re-introducing us to the Turkish language and culture through not just its language and literature, but its history, pop-culture, politics, customs and comics.
Content
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Writers’ Room: Ece Temelkuran
The Turkish novelist and journalist speaks to our Translator in Residence about why Anna Karenina is more real than Margaret Thatcher, and why a writer's best friend is a waiter who asks no questions.
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Writers’ Room: Perihan Mağden
Turkish author, poet and journalist Perihan Mağden talks to our Translator in Residence Canan Marasligil about the trials of journalism, giving a voice to the unheard, and having her book 'murdered' by a translator.
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Literary Translation at the London Book Fair 2013
The full programme for this year's Literary Translation Centre at the London Book Fair has been announced, with a diverse and comprehensive collection of events for anyone with a passion for the growing industry of literary translation. With events including introductions to the craft, explanations of what publishers look for, interactive translation games and profiles of key markets, this is a dynamic and thorough programme programme suitable for everyone from the seasoned professional to the curious newcomer.
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Translating Poetry into Dance
Last week we hosted 'Off the Page', the latest in our series of events from our Translators in Residence, where choreographers Marquez & Zangs experimented translating three versions of a poem into dance. Ellie Steel, editor at Harvill Secker, was in the audience. In the first of a series of blogs written for Harvill Secker, had this to say about the event.
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Writers’ Room: Canan Marasligil on Translation
Fresh off the train from Amsterdam, Canan Marasligil starts her time as one of our Translators in Residence this month. We caught up with her to talk about her passion for comics, and the cultural barriers between Turkey and the UK.
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More of our Favourite Untranslatable Words
Our last list of untranslatable words was so popular that we decided to put together another. We've included some of your recommendations, some of our favourites that we didn't have space for last time, and a few gems we've just discovered. Enjoy!
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Audio: Untranslatable Words
Every language has unique words untranslatable into other tongues, which can speak volumes about the character of the cultures they come from. At our Migration Stories event, our Translator in Residence Ollie Brock brought together multilingual poets Nii Parkes, Maria Jastrzebska and Sofia Buchuck to talk about how they navigate the interlocking words and ideas of their different languages. We…
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100 Things You Never Knew About Turkey
We continue our journey through Turkish culture with football teams, Noah's Ark and the Eurovision Song Contest.
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How Do You Translate the News?
Our Translator in Residence Ollie Brock explores the interlocking linguistic challenges of our global media in advance of 'Whose News Is It Anyway?' our event exploring translation in the news on Wednesday 20th February.
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Our Favourite Untranslatable Words
For our “Migration Stories” event we asked you to contribute your favourite untranslatable words – and you outdid yourselves! We couldn’t get through all of the suggestions on the night, so we decided to share some of our favourites with you here. Which do you like? And can you think of some good ones we’ve missed? Tweet us @freewordcentre to let us know.
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Writers’ Room: Ollie Brock on Translation
Each week we speak to someone close to Free Word with a story to tell. Recently installed as one of our two Translators in Residence, Ollie Brock is a literary translator of both Spanish and French, planning to explore translation from new angles with a series of events at Free Word. We stole five minutes of his time to ask what the day-to-day life of a translator is like, what plans he has for his residency with us, and whether Google Translate and the like will ever put him out of of a job.
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Words in the Mirror
Ollie Brock, one of Free Word's new Translators in Residence, explains why he's chosen to start his residency with a discussion of 'untranslatable' words.
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The Urge to Share Stories
Literary Translator Canan Marasligil will be resident at Free Word next year, leading a programme of events, discussions and online content exploring translation in new and exciting ways. Currently based in Amsterdam, Canan recently travelled to London for International Translation Day, and reflects here on how a day full of discoveries has influences her plans for her residency next year.
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Recommended Reads: 5 Alternate Perspectives on Turkey
Canan Marasligil will join Free Word as one of our two translators-in-residence this winter, when she intends to dive deep into Turkish culture, literature and translation. As part of a series of posts leading up to our translators' residencies, Canan here introduces 5 bloggers to re-introduce you to the country.
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Meet Our New Translators-in-Residence
We are delighted to announce that our two Translators-in-Residence for 2012/13, supported by the Gulbenkian Foundation, are Ollie Brock and Canan Marasligli. Ollie and Canan will be taking up their residency in early 2013. However, they will be working with Free Word Founder Members and Associates and outside partners to plan their programme of projects and events from the Autumn. …
Past Events
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Past Event: We Have a Voice!
Thu 23 May 2013
1:30pmFree Word Lecture Theatre
Join a chorus of young people at the Free Word Centre to celebrate the power of storytelling! Free Word’s Translator in Residence Canan Marasligil has been running a series of creative workshops with three schools in Islington throughout the spring, exploring storytelling in all its forms. From comics to recipes, poems to fairytales, young people from Islington Arts…
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Past Event: Signs
Fri 3 May 2013
1:00pmFree Word Lecture Theatre
Children from Frank Barnes School for the Deaf and Gospel Oak School share what they have learned in workshops on signed poetry. Artist and performer Deepa Shastri, together with with poet Nadia Nadarajah, will lead workshops in the schools in April exploring the richness of translation between sign language and English, enouraging the children to come up with inventive ways…
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Past Event: Your Voice; My Voice
An evening with Perihan Magden and Neel Mukherjee.
Mon 15 Apr 2013
6:30pmFree Word Lecture Theatre
How do you give a voice to the unheard? Join writers Perihan Magden (Turkey) and Neel Mukherjee (India/UK) as they discuss their writing and how it relates to the countries and cultures that shaped their lives. While their work describes different realities and explores distinct imaginary worlds, both writers share the urge to give a voice to the…
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Past Event: Off The Page: Translating Poetry into Dance
Thu 21 Mar 2013
6:30pmFree Word Lecture Theatre
"Watch out for intellect, because it knows so much it knows nothing" – so warned the poet Anne Sexton. But how do we bypass intellect? In an evening of readings and performance, choreographers Marquez & Zangs will look at how a poem can be translated into movement. Versions in English, French and Spanish of Guillaume Appollinaire’s poem &ldquo…
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Past Event: Open Workshops for “Off the Page”
Mon 18, Tue 19 and Wed 20 March: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Free Word Lecture Theatre
‘Watch out for intellect, because it knows so much it knows nothing’ – so warned the poet Anne Sexton. But how do we bypass intellect? Ahead of Off the Page, a special evening event on Thursday 21st March, choreographers Marquez & Zangs will be taking versions of a poem in three languages and experimenting with 'translating' them into…
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Past Event: Whose News is it Anyway?
Translation and Language in the Media
Wed 20 Feb 2013
6:30pmFree Word Lecture Theatre
Who translates the news, and what is the impact of that translation? A group of experts will discuss the use and abuse of translation in reporting daily international news in both mainstream and social media at this special panel debate. Liliane Landor, Controller of Languages, Global News, at the World Service; Biljana Scott, a linguist and expert in diplomatic language…
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Past Event: Migration Stories
Can home be translated? Three poets take us over the bridge.
Wed 23 Jan 2013
6:30pmFree Word Hall
What happens to our stories when we take them abroad? A poet arriving in a new country will have to express his or her past in new words – whether for the purposes of seeking asylum, or to integrate into a new society. Can an old story be dressed in new clothes? Can new stories be taken home again? Looking…