Call for papers RUA-L (2016)

Translation, Translation studies and Areas of Confluence

Translation, this frequently invisible activity, supports and promotes the cultural, scientific, economic, political and social interaction of the globalized world through multiple means. From literary translation to the multilingual communication of international companies, a vast number of activities are based on the translator's action, whether it is individual or collective, the result of a single decision maker or aided by translation tools. It is therefore understandable that the study and practice of translation is constantly under scrutiny, and that translator training in Portugal be given attention by the educational institutions. Sometimes understood primarily as a practice, translation was initially offered, in higher education, as intermediate training, and only started occupying its rightful place in higher education with graduate and post-graduate programmes, at the end of the twentieth century. We find translation frequently accompanied by literary and cultural studies, language sciences, terminology and audiovisuals, as an interface discipline but also with specialisms such as law and organizational communication, economics, health and life sciences, among others. This diversity has contributed to the development of multiple research activities through various language combinations. Although we find multiple studies on the mediation of and through languages ​​like English or French in translation journals, there is, in fact, scarce scientific production involving the Portuguese language (and especially European Portuguese) and it lacks visibility.

Therefore, this edition of RUA-L journal seeks to contribute to knowledge in the field of Translation, both in a more exclusive aspect of translation as science, the teaching of translation and translation as a professional activity, but also in areas of confluence with other domains. After more than a decade of academic activity in the field of Translation at the University of Aveiro - from the creation of the first degree in Languages ​​and Specialized Translation to the latest doctoral program in Translation and Terminology, together with the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa - we would like to reflect on achievements, needs and lacks now, at the beginning of 21st century. We extend this invitation to the academic and professional community to engage in this exchange of ideas and experiences. With this in mind, we invite all interested parties to send us articles on the thematic areas of translation studies, specialized translation, didactics of translation, translator training, translation technology as well as in the respective areas of confluence and application.

Only an integrated view of these complementary perspectives is worthy of such a broad and critical field as that of translation.