Siting Translation

This work explores translation as a political act, highlighting its role in reinforcing power dynamics among cultures. It encourages a reimagining of translation as a means of resistance and transformation.

In Siting Translation, Tejaswini Niranjana explores the intricate relationship between translation and power dynamics, arguing that translation is inherently a political act. Drawing on the works of influential theorists such as Walter Benjamin, Jacques Derrida, and Paul de Man, Niranjana illustrates how translation has historically served to reinforce unequal power relations among various groups, including different races and languages. She critiques the traditional Western philosophical perspective on translation, which has often contributed to the colonial construction of the 'other' as a static entity, removed from the flow of history. This perspective facilitated the appropriation and control of colonized cultures.

Niranjana focuses particularly on the context of colonial India, where scholars, administrators, and missionaries engaged in the translation of indigenous literature to further the expansion of the British Empire. By examining translations of Indian texts from the eighteenth century to the present, she highlights how these acts of translation were not merely linguistic exchanges but also tools of domination that shaped perceptions of colonized peoples. This historical analysis reveals the ways in which translation has been employed to maintain colonial power structures.

In a compelling call to action, Niranjana urges post-colonial societies to reconceptualize translation as a means of resistance and transformation. By recognizing the political implications of translation, she advocates for a reimagining of its role in contemporary contexts, suggesting that it can serve as a powerful instrument for reclaiming identity and fostering cultural dialogue. Through her work, Niranjana invites readers to consider the potential of translation to challenge existing power hierarchies and contribute to social change.