In 1989 the University of Leuven created a special research programme in Translation Studies in order to promote research training in the study of translational phenomena and to stimulate high-level research into the cultural functions of translation. This unique programme attracts talented students and young scholars. In 2006 the name of the Centre was changed into Centre for Translation Studies. CETRA is now part of the integrated Faculty of Arts.

Project: All over the world, authorities are increasingly confronted with multilingual populations, whether these are historical territorial minorities (the speakers of the more than 200 local languages in Congo, the speakers of 40 local languages in Senegal, the fon, yorouba, bariba, goun, ayizo, nago, gen, ditamari speakers in Benin, e.g.) or new immigrants, millions of which migrated over the last six decades. In this context, language policies - defined here as a set of legal rules that regulate language use for purposes of education and communication in legal affairs, in political institutions, in the media, and in administration - play a key role. They are instrumental in the construction of modern democratic societies and especially in their search for cohesion through participatory citizenship. Moreover, in today's complex, multilingual democracies, language policies of necessity must include translation policies - defined here as a set of legal rules that regulate translation for purposes of education and communication in legal affairs, in political institutions, in the media, and in administration -, to integrate minority speakers. There is' in other words, no language policy without a translation policy. The ideal of participatory citizenship and social cohesion thus highlights the need for new public translation policies worldwide.

However, among the numerous studies on language rights, on language policies or on minorities' and immigrant integration, the key role of a translation policy as part of any language policy is not taken into consideration (see e.g. Van Parijs 2007&2010, Spolsky 2004&2009, May 2008, Arraiza 2011, Extra &Gorter 2008, Grin 2010, Ginsburgh& Weber 2011, Patten 2009, De Schutter 2007). From a translation studies viewpoint, the links between language and translation policy are explored from various angles (Cronin 2006; García González 2004; Branchadell 2004; García de Toro 2004; Gülmüs 2007; Schäffner 2008; de Pedro 2009) but synthetic accounts on translational justice are still lacking.

How to bring outsiders in? And how to ensure linguistic and translational justice in a world in which the territorial and monolingual principles of the state are at odds with the mobility and multilingualism of their populations? At this point, there seem to be more questions than answers. Yet the stakes are vital and the challenges enormous. If, indeed, "one of the greatest challenges to participatory citizenship is language" (Stroud and Heugh 2004: 213), this also applies to translation. The synchronic and/or diachronic analysis of language and translation policies therefore constitutes an essential contribution to the study of citizenship, integration, language and translation rights for linguistic minorities.

This study will build on existing research by Meylaerts (2009 & 2011) and on previous research conducted in the framework of FP7-PEOPLE-2010-ITN-263954 "TIME". It will focus on the following interrelated research questions:
1. Which translation policies are used by public authorities to communicate with their multilingual populations?
2. How do these different policies ensure minorities' language and translation rights and their chances for participatory citizenship, social cohesion and integration?

The empirical goal is to describe and compare the translation policies in a respresentative variety of official settings in order to understand their role in minorities' integration and socialization.
The theoretical goal is to complement existing theories of language policy with the key element of transition policy and to develop a model of analyzing the relation between translation policies and patterns of integration and socialization and of internal cohesion.
The applied goal is to use the theoretical model to formulate best practices for authorities' long-term strategic approach for ensuring minorities' integration and socialization.

Profile
You have an MA in Translation Studies or comparable (Linguistics, Multilingual Communication, ....). An interdisciplinary profile, with an additional degree in Law, Political Philosophy, Sociology,..... is a plus. Excellent proficiency in English.

Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Reine Meylaerts, tel.: +3216324848, mail: reine.meylaerts@arts.kuleuven.be.
For more information on the scholarship scheme, please check this website: http://www.kuleuven.be/IRO or contact the doctoral school: doctschool@ghum.kuleuven.be
You can apply for this job no later than January 15, 2014 via the
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