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Article published In: FORUM
Vol. 20:1 (2022) ► pp.24–43

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Translating to hegemonize

Iranian post-revolutionary state-sponsored institutional translations

 | Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
Published online: 15 June 2022
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https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.21021.ema
Abstract
Among the diverse varieties of translation, one is institutional translation, i.e., a type of translation done either in or for a particular institution. In contemporary Iran after the victory of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, a large number of social, religious, political, cultural, and artistic works have been translated from Persian into a long array of other languages within such a framework. The implementation of such trans-national projects has involved hundreds of translators/ interpreters, allocation of billions of dollars, and making use of a wide network of international publishers and distributors. Numerous motives could be enumerated for such undertakings; however, the effects of such endeavors appear not to have been addressed in Translation Studies as yet. This research aims at pinpointing the mechanisms of such institutions, in particular relying on concepts such as ideology, hegemony and translational discourse-propagating network to contribute to evaluation of such a phenomenon. To this end, 11 Iranian post-revolutionary institutions with translational agendas were identified, demonstrated to have been following double objectives across the world; ideological identity-based discourse to propagate Islamic revolutionary Shia inclinations as well as to support consolidate the hegemony of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Résumé
La « traduction institutionnelle » se fait soit « dans », soit « pour » une institution particulière. Dans l’Iran post-révolutionnaire, un grand nombre d’œuvres ont été traduites dans un tel cadre. La mise en œuvre de tels projets transnationaux a impliqué des centaines de traducteurs, l’allocation de milliards de dollars et le recours à des réseaux d’éditeurs et de distributeurs internationaux. De nombreux motifs pourraient être énumérés pour de telles tâches ; cependant, leurs effets ne semblent pas avoir été abordés dans les études de traduction jusqu’à présent. Cette recherche vise à mettre en évidence les mécanismes de ces institutions, en s’appuyant notamment sur des concepts tels que « idéologie », « hégémonie » et « réseau de propagation du discours traductionnel » pour contribuer à l’évaluation d’un tel phénomène. Onze institutions iraniennes post-révolutionnaires avec des agendas de traduction ont été identifiées, démontrant qu’elles ont poursuivi un double objectif à travers le monde : un discours idéologique basé sur l’identité pour propager les penchants révolutionnaires islamiques chiites ainsi que pour soutenir la consolidation de l’hégémonie de la République islamique d’Iran.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Review of the literature
    • 2.1Institutional translation in modern Iran
    • 2.2Institutional translation in post-revolutionary Iran
  • 3.Theoretical framework
  • 4.Research questions
  • 5.Data collection
    • 5.1Data
      • 5.1.1Center for the translation of the Holy Quran
      • 5.1.2Islamic culture and relations organization
      • 5.1.3AL- Mostafa international university
      • 5.1.4Imam Khomeini research institute
      • 5.1.5Ahl Ul-Bayt world assembly
      • 5.1.6The world forum for the proximity of Islamic schools of thought
      • 5.1.7Al-Murtaza university
      • 5.1.8Islamic development organization
      • 5.1.9Encyclopedia of the world of Islam institution
      • 5.1.10Sa’adi foundation
      • 5.1.11Islamic Republic of Iran broadcasting
  • 6.Data analysis and results
  • 7.Conclusion
  • References
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