Call For Papers

Call For Papers

The South African Translators’ Institute (SATI) and the Mozambican Translators’ and Interpreters’ Association (ATIM) are delighted to announce a Call for Papers for our Conference, which will be held both virtually and in person on 25 and 26 September 2023.

The theme of the conference is

“Language Practice in Adversarial Times”

We invite papers that explore and highlight the resilience, opportunities and innovations associated with the unexpected shifts and challenges in our profession in recent years. Not only have new international conflicts erupted, but many countries are also facing financial recessions following the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing new political dynamics. In South Africa, efforts to regulate our industry with the creation of the South African Language Practice Council (SALPC) bring new questions and opportunities. In addition, the multilingual reality of most African countries sometimes presents treacherous waters to navigate. Translators, interpreters and other language practitioners are left with questions about how our industry can navigate these adversarial times positively.

The conference is aimed at both practitioners and academics, and we look forward to receiving proposals from both groupings. Proposals can deal with any aspect of the theme.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

  • Interpreting and translation in conflict zones
  • Multilingual communication readiness and the role of language practitioners in times of crisis
  • Language development in Africa despite funding limitations
  • Vulnerable communities and translation as empowerment
  • Language access in multilingual contexts (such as hospitals and court rooms)
  • The ethics dilemmas that face language practitioners who work with vulnerable populations
  • Language policy and planning: challenges and opportunities
  • Professionalism and professional development in an unregulated industry
  • South African Language Practitioners’ Council … whereto from here?
  • The practical challenges and opportunities related to freelancing
  • New technologies: CAT tools, machine translation, AI and ChatGPT
  • Overcoming the physical, social and economic impact of COVID-19

We welcome submissions from both practitioners and academics for:

– presentations (20 minutes + 10 minutes for questions),

– panel discussions (90 minutes), and

– workshops (90 minutes).

Submissions should include a proposed title and an English abstract of no more than 500 words. Please also indicate if your submission is for an individual paper, panel, or workshop and whether your presentation will take place virtually or in person. Should you wish to present at the conference in an official South African or Mozambican language other than English, International Sign Language or South African Sign Language, please indicate this in your submission. Your submission should be accompanied by a short bio of no more than 150 words and your photograph in PNG or JPEG format.

CALL FOR WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING EVENTS

We invite presenters to offer workshops on 27 and 28 September aimed at language professionals in practice. Workshops may address any relevant skill, knowledge of a specific language, any applicable software or technology, or business management skills for language professionals. Submission should indicate the intended audience (i.e., general, beginners, advanced; language group; skills group), the amount of time needed, and the optimal number of attendees for your event.

Submissions can be uploaded on the dedicated page of the SATI website (button below) or emailed to executive@translators.org.za by 15 June 2023.

Key dates:

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 15 June
Authors informed of acceptance: 15 July
Early-bird registrations open: 1 August
Submission of full version of papers: 10 August
Provisional programme published: 15 August
Regular registrations open: 20 August
Final programme published: 1 September
Registrations close: 15 September

Should you have any questions or queries, please contact the SATI Office at executive@translators.org.za or +27 79 730 8121.