Appel à contributions en français

The fields of translation and literature are currently undergoing profound transformations. These developments are challenging well-established methodologies, institutional hierarchies, professional practices, as well as cultural and literary imaginaries. They also impact university curricula and the modes through which texts circulate, thereby reshaping the contours of the global literary landscape.

For a journal like Deshima, devoted to the cultural, literary, and linguistic relations between Northern Europe and the Francophone world, it seems essential—on the eve of its twentieth anniversary—to dedicate a thematic issue to translation in the context of these transformations. The objective is to examine how voices emerging from less dominant linguistic and geographical areas—whether due to a smaller number of speakers or a lack of visibility in the dominant translation circuits—have managed to make themselves heard, and to assess the extent to which evolving translation practices are contributing to this shift.

This issue aims in particular to shed light on the connections between Northern and Southern literatures, whether through historical translation networks, dynamics of linguistic asymmetry, or indirect circulations via intermediary languages (such as French or English). It also seeks to explore the gaps—and the exchange zones—between “major” and “minor” languages, between central and peripheral regions, and between traditional practices and the challenges arising from new technologies.

For its 20^th issue, Deshima is therefore launching a call for contributions on the theme of literary translation, considered as a textual practice, a cultural stake, a socio-economic reality, and a political object. Contributions may adopt a synchronic perspective (case studies of the present day, current overviews) or a diachronic one (historical studies of translation practices and institutions).

Possible thematic axes include (non-exhaustive list):

• Translated corpus. Which authors and works are being translated? Who is canonised through translation? Are certain countries under-represented? Are some genres more frequently translated (novels, crime fiction, children’s literature, etc.)?
• Translators. Who translates? Do they work from multiple languages? What role does gender, training, or professional status play in this activity?
• Publishing and distribution. Which publishing houses, series, or editorial networks structure the field of literary translation?
• Institutions and policies. Which institutions (States, foundations, European programmes, etc.) support or influence translation policies?
• Reception. What visibility do translations have in literary criticism, the press, and specialist media? How are translations from the North received in Francophone contexts (and vice versa)?
• Linguistic and stylistic aspects. What challenges are posed by the grammar, syntax, or prosody of Northern languages in literary translation?
• Paratexts and editorial strategies. What role is played by prefaces, notes, typographical choices, or editorial strategies in the reception of translations?
• Foreignisation vs. domestication. Do translations highlight the “exoticism” of the source culture, or do they seek to erase it in favour of a reading experience more familiar to the target audience?
• Indirect (relay) translations. What role does French play as a bridge language? Are some works from the North translated via German, English, or another language?
• Human vs. machine translation. How do literary translators in the North (and elsewhere) perceive the advances in neural translation? What debates are taking place in these circles?

In the journal Deshima, special attention is given to the national languages of Scandinavia (and to Finnish, Icelandic, etc.), as well as Dutch. The editorial board also encourages proposals concerning lesser-used languages (such as Frisian or other minoritised Nordic languages), or on geographical areas historically connected to Northern Europe.

Comparative studies, analyses of translations into languages other than French, or research on cross-translation dynamics (via French, or between cultural spaces) are also welcome, provided a clear link is established with the Francophone sphere.

Submission Guidelines

Proposals must be sent to Roberto Dagnino (dagnino@unistra.fr) and Cyrille François (cyrille.francois@unil.ch) by 15 September 2025. They should include:

• a title;
• an abstract of 200 to 300 words;
• 5 keywords;
• a short biographical note (5–6 lines).

Authors will receive a response in early October. Complete articles will be expected by 31 January 2026. Following double-blind peer review, accepted texts will be published in the November 2026 issue.