New Paradigm and Sustainability in Literary Translation: An Experiential Report from Participants’ Perspectives of Social Translating Project, Goethe

Abstract

Translation serves as an activity that facilitates the transmission of perception from readers in one culture to those in another, while literary translation, in particular, constitutes a form of ecological expression imbued with aesthetic qualities. The translation of German literature is recognized as a significant cultural mission of the Goethe-Institut, which has continuously supported and promoted this endeavor through various means such as translator support grants, workshops for translators, events on International Translation Day, and notably, the Social Translating project. Initiated in 2017 by the Goethe-Institut Korea, the Social Translating project aims to explore a collaborative approach to literary translation within translator communities from East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The translators have the opportunity to engage in dialogue, exchange knowledge, and directly consult with authors. This project shifts from the traditionally solitary nature of translation work to a process centered on collaborative learning through online platforms.

This study compiles and analyzes data relating to the sustainability dimension in organizing the Social Translating literary translation project, based on the theoretical framework of cultural ecology. It aims to present the perspectives, attitudes, and practices of both translators and project coordinators by collecting qualitative data through open-ended questionnaires and voluntary sampling. The analysis reveals that participation in the Social Translating project not only offers translators new experiences in collaborative literary translation and raises awareness of participatory processes within cultural-ecological contexts but also contributes to producing tangible and sustainable impacts in the translators’ professional practices across various aspects.