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Linguistic ambassadors in Reykjavík and Suðursveit!
Translators’ conference in Reykjavík and Hali 23 – 26 April 2009.
“To be or not to be, that is the question... it is really almost inconceivable to address a conference of translators without recalling Helgi Hálfdanarson and quoting his work,” commented Minister of Education and Culture Katrín Jakobsdóttir when she opened the translators' conference at the National Museum of Iceland. She recalled that Helgi, who translated many classics of world literature into Icelandic, “has an important place in Icelandic literary and cultural history by virtue of his translations.”
The conference was held with the purpose of motivating translators in their translations of Icelandic literature, in view of the fact that Iceland will be Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2011.
Over thirty translators into twelve different languages attended the conference: eleven who translate into German, five into English, two into Danish, French, Dutch, Spanish and Polish respectively, and one each into Estonian, Norwegian, Russian, Swedish and Czech. The lingua franca among the many nationalities was, naturally, Icelandic.
The conference programme included presentations on the younger generation of poets and other writers, and on contemporary fiction and poetry. Kristof Magnússon, speaking on behalf of translators, felt it was important for translators to have this experience of Iceland, and gain insight into the latest developments in Icelandic writing; the conference would also serve to motivate translators, and promote contact among them.
“Our role is to provide translators with assistance,” said Halldór Guðmundsson, director of the Sagenhaftes Island/Fabulous Iceland project, addressing the conference. The project has the objective of supporting all translations of literary merit.”
Reassembled at Nýheimar in Höfn, Hornafjörður, after a flight to the southeast, the translators considered the role of the translator: to bring the content of a work to other linguistic areas. This can be a difficult task, as four translators explained in their discussion of grappling with translating Icelandic literature. They agreed that, though challenging, it is also “a delight,” as Czech translator Helena Kadecková put it.
The group found great inspiration in their visit to Hali in Suðursveit, birthplace of Þórbergur Þórðarson, where a splendid study centre has been opened in his memory. Writer Pétur Gunnarsson, chair of the Writers' Union and Þorbjörg Arnórsdóttir, manager at the study centre, spoke to the translators about Þórbergur, his life and his writings.
The translators were in good spirits as they set off for home on the Sunday morning, looking forward to the tasks ahead. The aim is clear: to maximise the impact of Iceland' s role as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2011.