The 2011 Nida School of Translation Studies, co-directed by Dr. Philip H. Towner and Prof. Stefano Arduini, met from May 16-28 around the theme of “Ideology, History, and Translation.”  As in the past years, the 2011 NSTS devoted itself to the professional development and capacity building of translators by bringing them into an active dialogue with modern translation studies in all its varieties. Two Nida Professors, Dr. Martha Cheung (Hong Kong Baptist University) and Dr. Vicente Rafael (University of Washington, Seattle) explored the interaction of ideology and translation in the fields of Chinese literature and US defense policy, respectively.  Dr. Cheung emphasized the struggle for “Chinese identity” that translators face while Dr. Rafael calculated the cost of using translation as a weapon. School staff supplemented these lectures with core curriculum seminars on linguistics, media translation, performance and adaptation studies, literary translation, biblical studies, and semiotics.

 School associates, some 30 this year, arrived from over 20 different countries and had in many cases PhDs and wide-ranging experience as educators, trainers, and researchers. A singular feature of this class was the participation of a cohort of 10 DMin students from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The associates experienced a full range of educational opportunities, beginning with the lectures of the Nida Professors and School staff. Associates took time for directed readings and tutorials that helped shape the research paper they presented during the course of the two-week program. Judging from the testimonies of associates, the 2011 School was a smashing success. “I want to express my gratitude and appreciations to all participants at the Nida program; it was the most exhilarating and educating experience I ever had; as a Bible worker it was my first time to interact with people with different faith as well in translation issues; and my experience was both fascinating and challenging. Many thanks to Nida Institute and its staff as well. God bless.” (Haileyesus, Bible Society of Ethiopia).

 “I echo my sincere thanks to the staff and all participants in this year's NSTS.  It was a greatly enriching experience for me on many levels.” (Doug, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary). 

"I'm very grateful for the wisdom and the goodwill I enjoyed in the two-week Misano experience.  As we say in Filipino: Maraming Salamat! Mabuhay ang NSTS! (Many Thanks! Long Live NSTS!)” (Cora, University of the Philippines).

The 2012 Nida School will meet 20 May – 1 June. For more information please contact James Maxey at JMaxey@americanbible.org.

Dig Deeper

Susan Bassnett and André Lefevere, Translation, History and Culture (1990)

Martha Cheung, An Anthology of Chinese Discourse on Translation (2006)

Theo Hermans, ed., The Manipulation of Literature (1985)

Anthony Pym, Exploring Translation Theories (2009)

Vicente Rafael, Contracting Colonialism (1993)

Gideon Toury, Translation Studies and Beyond (1995)