Translation Process

Decolonial Subversions is a multilingual platform where we publish in any language provided that we can find a Reviewer from the same language community. All contributions have an English version; our aim is that this is accompanied by a version in at least one other language, with a focus especially on non-western languages and language(s) related to the communities with whom the published submission is most concerned.

Currently, English is the lingua franca in which mainstream and influential knowledge is largely produced. This grants English-speaking industrialised societies even more power and advantage, which then sustains the centre-periphery distribution of knowledge production in the world. Moreover, it is often the very people who should be the protagonists of research projects who are excluded from discussions and debates that closely concern them, since these are primarily conducted in English. Communities that participate in and provide data for research projects often cannot access this research or provide feedback and criticism to scholars, activists or other professionals.

In order to subvert this unjust arrangement, we wish to accompany as many publications as possible by versions in languages other than English.

By this means we hope to widen conversations, which thus far have been circumscribed to privileged English-speaking people, to a wider public. By enabling more people to engage in conversations from which they have been historically excluded, we anticipate the emergence of more critical discussions.

Secondly, by publishing in languages other than English, we wish to confront privileged English-speakers with contributions they do not necessarily understand, in order to raise more awareness about the epistemic violence that the rule of a single scholarly language often exerts on non-English speaking populations.

Unfortunately, we are confronted with the reality that English is currently the lingua franca. Since our aim is to critically further dialogue without excluding any potential interlocutors, we also publish every contribution in English with the aim of sustaining a dialogue with mainstream knowledge production.

Translation not only requires excellent command over the language under consideration (in addition to English), but also profound familiarity with the cosmological framework in which the language operates.

Translation is a highly skilled and sophisticated process, which must be duly acknowledged. Thus, in addition to mentioning Translators’ names on the work translated, we publish their short biographies in a dedicated space, where they can be duly celebrated and become part of the larger network of people engaged in radical decolonisation.

If you are fluent in other languages (in addition to English) and wish to support translation projects under Decolonial Subversions, contact either of the Founding Editors (Monika: mh121@soas.ac.uk; Romina: ri5@soas.ac.uk).



Guidelines for Translators

As a Translator for Decolonial Subversions you will be profoundly familiar not only with the language under consideration, but also with the cosmological framework within which the language unfolds. Additionally, you will have a very good command over English.

We value immensely the work of Translators, and commit to duly acknowledge them and their skills.


Dialogue

If you are a colleague, friend or collaborator of one of the Contributors, you should discuss with them best translation-practices in order to render the arguments candidly and meticulously.

If you are inspired by one of our contributions and would like to translate the same in a language you are deeply familiar with for publication, please contact us and, provided the Contributor agrees, we will put you in touch with them in order to collaborate on the task.

We expect the two parties to work collaboratively (keeping the Founding Editors in the cc) to achieve a rigorous contribution that transmits the arguments of the initial contribution fairly.

Since there is no singular way of translating and the process may vary on a case-by-case basis, we insist that Translator and Contributor communicate with each other and agree on best practices to follow.


Timeline

Timelines for the translation will be initially agreed with the Founding Editors.

Generally, after the initial dialogue between Translator and Contributor, Translators are given from four to six weeks to submit their translation.

Once the translation is completed, a third party who is fluent in the language under consideration will evaluate accuracy and consistency (from one to two weeks), before the final translation is published on the platform.


Requirements

You should be able to provide some evidence of your language skills (prior publications, mother tongue, language certificates, school certificates or other appropriate evidence where relevant).

If you are fluent in a non-western language (in addition to English) and wish to become involved in the work of Decolonial Subversions, contact either of the Founding Editors (Monika: mh121@soas.ac.uk; Romina: ri5@soas.ac.uk) or fill in the contact form. Please indicate which contribution you are interested in translating and provide the necessary evidence for your language proficiency.