Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Translation and Interpreting Institute is now accepting submissions for its upcoming translation conference, which will be held on March 28-29, 2016 at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC). This annual event invites translation and interpreting academics, practitioners, and members of the community to examine topics related to an overarching theme, which for the 2016 conference will be “Politics of Translation: Representations and Power”.

In an increasingly globalized world with frequent exchanges between nation-states, cultures, and communities, translation is recognized to be part of the global game of having influence and authority. The conference seeks to facilitate a conversation about the extent to which translational mechanisms are used to represent power and transform image within politics. In the era of sustainable development, engaged popular resistance, sustained conflicts and maintained tensions in many regions around the world, the conference will also explore the various players and sources of influence in today’s world.

In light of these underlying trends and dynamics, HBKU’s TII is calling for papers examining political translation through a number of lenses. Thematic areas include, but are not limited to, interpreting in conflict zones, citizen media, brokering and mediating, the ethics of translation, the sound and image of power, manipulation and censorship, gender politics, translating religions, and translating democracy.

Dr Amal Al Malki, Executive Director, TII, noted: “There is a growing interest in the fields of translation and interpreting as they play major role in the power relation, building allegiances or sowing discords through manipulation of language. We understand that in TII, and thus we work hard on equipping our students and professionals with the ethical framework that will enable them to make morally sound decisions. Organizing this conference for the 7th consecutive year, has put us on the global stage, and more importantly has enabled us to contribute to the building of local capacity that has a strong global outreach.”

Abstracts of 250 to 300 words may be submitted in either Arabic or English, the two languages of the conference, and should include the applicant’s institutional affiliation. The deadline for sending the abstracts is October 22, 2015, and the applicants will be notified by November 22nd.

Those interested in submitting a proposal to the 2016 Conference are encouraged to consult the submission website for further information at http://www.editorialmanager.com/tii-conference/default.aspx.