Translation and Objects: Rewriting Migrancy and Displacement Through the Materiality of Art

Translation and Objects offers a new and original perspective in Translation Studies, originating from the conviction that in today’s world translation is pervasive. Building on the ideas of scholars who have expanded the boundaries of the discipline, this book focuses on the analysis of objects that migrants carry with them on their journey of migration.

The ideas of displacement and constant movement are key throughout these pages. Migrants live translation literally, because displacement is a leitmotif for them. Translation and Objects analyzes migrant objects--such as shoes, stones, or photographs--as translation sites that function as expressions as well as sources of emotions. These displaced emotional objects, laden with meanings and sentiments, tell many stories, saying a great deal about their owners, who almost never have a voice. This book shows how meaning is displaced through the materiality, texture, smells, sensations, and forms of moving objects.

Including examples of translations that have been created from a no-nlinguistic perspective and exploring linguistic issues whilst connecting them to other fields such as anthropology and sociology, Vidal sets out a broad vision of translation. This is critical reading for translation theory courses within Translation Studies, comparative literature, and cultural studies.

Ma Carmen África Vidal Claramonte is Professor of Translation at the University of Salamanca, Spain. She has published articles and chapters, edited volumes and books, including Translation and Repetition (Routledge, 2024); Translation and Contemporary Art (Routledge, 2022). She is a practising translator specialized in the fields of philosophy, literature and contemporary art.