Literature in Motion: Translating Multilingualism Across the Americas

Literature is often assumed to be monolingual, but a wide range of contemporary literary works mix and meld two or more languages, incorporating translation into their composition. Ellen Jones' Literature in Motion offers a new framework for understanding literary multilingualism, emphasizing how authors and translators can use its defamiliarizing and disruptive potential to resist conventions of form and dominant narratives about language and gender. She argues that translation does not conflict with multilingual writings' subversive potential but rather is closely intertwined with them as creative strategies for exploring other forms of textual and conceptual hybridity, fluidity, and disruption. Jones examines the work of well-known and understudied writers from across the American hemisphere who explore the spaces between languages and genders, genres, and textual versions, reading their work alongside their translations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Literature is frequently perceived as monolingual, with publishing rights being sold based on linguistic territories and translated books being perceived as moving from one "original" language to another. However, a wide array of contemporary literary works seamlessly blend and merge two or more languages, incorporating translation into their composition. How are these multilingual works translated, and what are the cultural and political implications of such translations?

In Literature in Motion, Ellen Jones presents a fresh perspective on literary multilingualism, highlighting how authors and translators can harness its disorienting and disruptive power to challenge established norms of form and dominant narratives about language and gender. By examining the interplay between translation and multilingualism in contemporary literature, Jones delves into its profound significance for the theory, practice, and publishing of literature in translation. She contends that translation does not undermine the subversive potential of multilingual writings. Instead, we can view multilingualism and translation as intricately interconnected creative strategies through which other forms of textual and conceptual hybridity, fluidity, and disruption are explored.

Jones addresses a diverse range of well-known and lesser-known writers from across the American hemisphere who navigate the spaces between languages and genders, genres, and textual versions. She critically analyzes their work alongside their translations, shedding light on the ways in which translation contributes to the interpretation and appreciation of their literary creations.

One notable example discussed in the book is the writing of U.S. Latinx authors Susana Chávez-Silverman, Junot Díaz, and Giannina Braschi. These authors employ various forms of "Spanglish," a hybrid language that blends Spanish and English, to express their cultural identities and experiences. Jones explores how their writing in Spanglish challenges traditional notions of language purity and authenticity, as well as the binary between English and Spanish. Through their translations, these authors' works gain broader audiences and are made accessible to non-Spanish speakers, thereby expanding the reach and impact of their literary contributions.

Another author highlighted in Literature in Motion is the Brazilian writer Wilson Bueno. Bueno combines Portuguese and Spanish, or "Portunhol," with the indigenous language Guarani, creating a unique blend of languages and cultural influences. Canadian translator Erín Mour renders Bueno's writing into "Frenglish," a combination of French and English, thereby facilitating its translation into a broader range of languages and audiences.

Through her analysis, Jones demonstrates how translation plays a crucial role. It is not merely a mechanical process of conveying meaning from one language to another but rather a creative act that involves interpretation, adaptation, and negotiation. Translators must navigate complex linguistic and cultural nuances, ensuring that the essence of the original work is preserved while also adapting it to the target language and cultural context. This process often involves the fusion of different linguistic registers, the reimagining of narrative structures, and the exploration of new poetic and rhetorical possibilities.

Moreover, the translation of multilingual works raises important cultural and political implications. It challenges the notion of language as a barrier to understanding and communication, highlighting the interconnectedness and fluidity of languages and cultures. Translation enables the dissemination of diverse literary voices and perspectives, promoting cultural exchange and diversity. It also facilitates the crossing of boundaries, allowing readers to engage with literature from different parts of the world and gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and societies.

However, the translation of multilingual works also poses challenges. It requires a deep understanding of both the source and target languages, as well as the cultural and historical contexts in which the works were produced. Translators must balance the fidelity to the original text with the need to adapt it to the target language and audience, ensuring that the translation retains its aesthetic and rhetorical qualities. This can be particularly challenging when dealing with complex literary forms, such as poetry or experimental prose, which often rely on linguistic and structural nuances that may be difficult to convey in another language.

In conclusion, Literature in Motion offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of literary multilingualism. By challenging the notion of literature as monolingual and emphasizing the creative potential of translation, Jones provides a new framework for understanding the significance of multilingual writings in contemporary literature. Through her analysis of well-known and understudied writers, as well as their translations, she demonstrates how translation plays a vital role
role in expanding the reach and impact of literary works, promoting cultural exchange and diversity, and facilitating the crossing of boundaries. While translation poses challenges, it is a creative act that requires a deep understanding of both the source and target languages and the cultural and historical contexts in which the works were produced. By embracing the complexities and nuances of translation, we can appreciate the rich and diverse literary landscape that emerges from the interplay between languages and cultures.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231203029