Translation Workshops

Philosophy and Aims

The quality of literary translations plays a significant role in terms of intercultural exchange, the sight towards other cultures in a specific language community and the developement of each countries own culture and identity.

Although the quality and quantity of literary translations from other languages to Turkish and from Turkish to other languages have increased the last years, in Turkey translations are still mostly a matter of economic criteria, i.e. the question of costs edges out the quality. Another problem is that literary translators earn considerably less money. All these factors mean that in Turkey literary translations are still mainly considered as sideline or leisure activities, which again means a lack of quality.

In order to make the Turkish literature, art and culture more well known and to better understand foreign cultures and thus contribute to a better and deeper understanding between different cultures in general, the quality of literature and humanities translations from other languages to Turkish and from Turkish to other languages must be improved.

One of the main requirements to achieve this aim and to ensure the quality of translations also in the future is to offer young translators the best entry possible.

Young translators with artistic ambitions need to be treated responsibly and carefully and of course also and most of all need to be supported and cautiously guided.