Translating in Jails: The Case of Contemporary Iranian Imprisoned Translators

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

Abstract

Just like members of any other profession, not all translators are the same in terms of their ideas, ideals, and code of conduct. Among the modern Iranian translators, a limited, yet influential and professionally well-known, group of them who were among the political activists during Reza Shah Pahlavi (1926-1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (1941-1979) reigns had to spend so many years in prison as prisoners of conscience. These prisoners, who were mostly members of the secular political organizations of that era, had to serve long prison terms under harsh physical and psychological conditions. Surprisingly, a number of these prisoners turned out to be among the leading Iranian translators of European languages in the years and decades which ensued in rendering works of both fiction and nonfiction. To get familiar with this category of influential translators, the titles they translated into Persian, the languages they translated from, and the way they had learned the languages they translated from, this qualitative research was done drawing upon data gathered from sources such as Persian literary journals, interviews, and memoires. Meanwhile, to address the issues involved, the theoretical framework employed here drew upon concepts such as agency and habitus. Findings revealed that to this particular group of translators, getting involved in translating in jail meant an attempt for survival and/or self-expression.

Keywords

References

Ahmadzadeh, H. (2003). Nation and novel: A study of Persian and Kurdish narrative discourse. Uppsala: Uppsala University Press.
Amooei, M. A. (2004). Dorde zamaaneh: Khaateraate Mohammad Ali Amooei. [The depth of experience: Mohammad Ali Amooei’s memoirs]. Tehran: Nashr-e Eshaareh.
Amin Moayyed, M. (1979). Taarikhe ejtemaaeiye honar. [The social history of art by Arnold Hauser.]. Tehran: Sherkate Enteshaaraate Chaapakhsh.
Azadibougar, O. (2010). Translation historiography in the modern world: Modernization and translation into Persian. Target, 22(2), 298-329.
Baker, M., & Saldanha, G. (Eds.). (2011). Routledge encyclopedia of translation studies (2nd ed.). London and New York: Routledge.
Behaazin, M. A. (2003). Az har dari: Zendeginaameye khodnevesht. [From here and there: An autobiography.]. Tehran: Enteshaarate Doostaan.
Boroojerdi, M. [Translator, Shirazi, J.]. (1997). Roshanfekraane Irani va gharb: Sargozashte naafarjaame boomigarraei. [Iranian intellectuals and the West: The tormented triumph of nativism.]. Tehran: Nashr va Pajooheshe Farzaanrooz.
Chesterman, A. (2007). Bridge concepts in translation sociology. In M. Wolf & A. Fukari (Eds.), Constructing a sociology of translation (pp. 171-183). Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Ettehaadieh Nezaam Maafi, M., & Sadvandiyaan, S. (1995). Majmooeye mokaatebaat, asnaad, khaateraat, va aaasaare Firooz Mirzaa Firooz (Nosratoldollah). In Proceedings of Letters, Documents, Memoirs, and Works by Firooz Mirzaa Firooz (Nosratoldollah), Vol. 2, The prison memoirs. Tehran: Nashr-e Taarikh.
Frankl, V.  E. (1984). Man’s search for meaning. New York: Pocket Books.
Gooyandeh, H. M. (1986). Dar ahvaale motarjemaan: Peykhaaye roohe bashari [About translators: The heralds of human soul]. In N. Poorjavaadi (Ed.), Darbaareye tarjomeh [on translation] (pp. 30-36). Tehran: Markaze Nashr-e Daanehgaahi.
Gouvanvic, J-M. (2005). A Bourdieusian theory of translation, or the coincidence of practical instances: Field, habitus, capital, and illusion. The Translator, 11(2),147-166.
Haaji Saadeghi, A. (2003). Yeki az maa: Khaateraat va didgaahhaaye ostaad Ebraahim Younesi. [One of us: Memoirs and opinions of master Ebraahim Younesi.]. Tehran: Nashr-e Koochak.
Haddadian Moghaddam, E. (2011). Agency in the translation and production of the adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan into Persian. Target, 23(2), 206-234.
Inghilleri, M. (Ed.). (2005). Bourdieu and the sociology of translation and interpreting. The Translator, 11(2), 211-230.
Inghilleri, M. (2011). Sociological approaches. In M. Baker & Gabriela Saldanha (Eds.). Routledge encyclopedia of translation studies (pp. 279-281). London & New York: Routledge.
Iraani, N. (1989). Tarjomeh: Aayeneye sarzendegiye fekriye mellathaa. [The mirror of the intellectual dynamism of nations.]. In N. Poorjavaadi (Ed.), Darbaareye tarjomeh [on translation] (pp. 65-72). Tehran: Markaze Nashr-e Daaneshgaahi.
Jafari, M. M. (2009). Hamgaam baa aazaadi (Khaateraate shafaahiye Mohammad Mehdi Jafari). [In harmony with freedom: The oral memoirs of Mohammad Mehdi Jafari.]. Tehran: Nashr-e Sahifeye Kherad.
Keddie, N. R. (1981). The roots of Revolution: An interpretive history of modern Iran. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Keddie, N. R. (1983). The Iranian Revolution in comparative perspective. American Historical Review, 88(3), 11-23.
Kenaarsari, F. (1997). Ketaabshenaasiye roman va majmooehaaye daastaaniye motarjam. [A bibliography of the novels and collections of translated short stories.]. Tehran: Saazemaane Farhang va Ershaade Eslaami.
Keshaavarz, K. (1989). Chaahaardah maah dar jazireye Khaarg: Yaaddaashthaaye yek zendaani. [Fourteen months in Khaarg Island: Memoirs of a prisoner.]. Tehran: Enteshaaraate Payaam.
Khazaaeefar, A. (2004). Thaghaddom fazl va fazle taghaddom dar nekoodaashte Najaf Daryaabandari. [Pioneering in knowledge and priority in pioneering: In appreciation of Najaf Daryaabandari]. Motarjem Quarterly, 42, 23-24.
Khojastehrahimi, R. (2009). Safiraane tajaddod: Parvandehee darbaareye taarikhe tarjomeye jadeed dar Iran. [The heralds of modernism: A file on the history of modern translation in Iran.]. Mehrnaameh, 7, 32-99.
Kowsari, A. (2004). Daryaabandari va zabaani motafaavet baraaye tarjomeye roman. [Najaf Daryaabandari and selecting a different jargon for translating novels]. Faslnaameye Motarjem, 42, 25- 30. 
Liu, J. (2012). Habitus of translators as socialized individuals: Bourdieu’s account. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 2(6), 1168-1173.
Mirsepaasi, A. [Translator, Mokhber, A.]. (2010). Roshanfekraane Iraani: Revaayathaaye yas va omid [Political Islam, Iran, and the enlightenment: Philosophies of hope and despair.]. Tehran: Nashr-e Tose-eh.
Mirsepaasi, A. [Translator, Tavvakoliyaan, J.]. (2013). Tamoli dar moderniteye Iraani. [Intellectual discourse and the politics of modernization: Negotiating modernity in Iran.]. Tehran: Nashr-e Saales.
Moosavi Bojnoordi, S. K. [Edited by Ranjbar Kermaani, A. A.]. (2001). Messi be rang-e shafagh. [A dusk with the color of dawn.]. Tehran: Nashr-e Ney.
Mozaffari Saaveji, M. (2008). Goftegoo baa Najaf Daryaabandari. [An interview with Najaf Daryaabandari.]. Tehran: Enteshaaraate Morvaarid.
Munday, J. (Ed.). (2009). The Routledge companion to translation studies. London and New York: Routledge.
Munday, J. (2012). Introducing translation studies (theories and applications). London and New York: Routledge.
Nord, C. (1997). Translating as a purposeful activity: Functionalist approaches explained. Manchester: St. Jerome Publishing.
Poorhosseini, A. (2000). Pas az chehel saal: Zendegaaniye ostaad Parviz Shahriyaari. [After forty years: A biography of master Parviz Shahriyaari.]. Tehran: Nashr-e Mohaajer.
Pym, A. (1998). Method in translation history. Manchester: St. Jerome.
Qeisari, A. [Translator, Dehghaan, M.]. (2009). Roshanfekraane Iraan dar qarne bistom. [Iranian intellectuals in the twentieth century.]. Tehran: Entesharaate Hermes.
Raamin, A, Faani K., & Saadaat, M. A. (Eds.). (2009). Daaneshnaameye daaneshgostar. [Daaneshgostar encyclopedia.]. Tehran: Moasseseye Elmi Farhangiye Daaneshgotar.
Sadri Afshaar, G. H., Hakami, N., & Hakami, N. (2009). Farhange persianye alaam. [Persian dictionary of proper names.] Tehran: Farhange Moaaser.
Saldanha, G., & O’Brien, S. (2013). Research methodologies in translation studies. Manchester: St. Jerome Publishing.
Sameeie, A. (2004). Goftegoo baa Ahmad Sameeie. [An interview with Ahmad Sameeie.]. Faslnaameye Motarjem, 42, 23-27.
Sarkoohi, F. (2002). Yaas va daas. [Jasmine and sickle.]. Sweden: Enteshaaraate Baaraan.
Simeoni, D. (1998). The pivotal status of the translator’s habitus. Target, 10(1), 1- 40.
Vahdat, F. [Translator, Haghighatkhaah, M.]. (2010). Rooyaarooeeye fekriye Iran baa modrniteh. [God and juggernaut: Iran’s intellectual encounter with modernity.]. Tehran: Nashr-e Quqnoos.
Venuti, L. (2013). Translation changes everything (theory and practice). London and New York: Routledge.
Williams, J., & Chesterman, A. (2002). The map: A beginner’s guide to doing research in translation studies. Manchester: St.  Jerome Publishing.
Wolf, M., & Fukari, A. (Eds.). (2007). Constructing a sociology of translation. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Yousefi Eshkevari, H. (2009). Yaad va khaaterehee az Abu Zaid [Recollections from Abu Zaid.]. Retrieved March 15, 2013, from the World Wide Web:  http://www.yousefieshkevari.com/?p=936.
 
Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics
Volume 7, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
November 2016
Pages 34-54

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics