American Literary Translators Association

American Literary Translators Association is a United States-based organization that promotes the art of literary translation and supports translators of literature from various languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese. The association was founded in 1978 by a group of translators, including Gregory Rabassa, Richard Wilbur, and Edith Grossman, with the goal of advancing the art of translation and recognizing the important work of translators such as Constance Garnett, Ezra Pound, and T.S. Eliot. The organization is affiliated with the University of Texas at Dallas and has partnerships with other literary organizations, including the PEN America, National Book Foundation, and Literary Translators' Association of Canada. The association also collaborates with publishers like New Directions Publishing, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and HarperCollins to promote translated literature.

● History

The American Literary Translators Association has a rich history that dates back to the 1970s, when a group of translators and writers, including Isaac Bashevis Singer, Joseph Brodsky, and Czeslaw Milosz, came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities of literary translation. The association was formally established in 1978 and has since grown to become one of the leading organizations for translators and literary translation in the United States. Over the years, the association has hosted numerous events and conferences, featuring prominent translators and writers such as Susan Sontag, Don DeLillo, and Toni Morrison. The association has also worked closely with other literary organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of International Education, to promote literary translation and support translators.

● Organization

The American Literary Translators Association is a non-profit organization that is governed by a board of directors composed of translators, writers, and publishers. The association has a small staff and is headquartered at the University of Texas at Dallas, where it is affiliated with the Center for Translation Studies. The association also has a network of chapters and affiliates across the United States and around the world, including the European Association for Literary Translation and the International Federation of Translators. The organization works closely with other literary organizations, such as the Writers Guild of America, Authors Guild, and Publishers Association of the West, to promote literary translation and support translators.

● Awards

The American Literary Translators Association presents several awards each year to recognize outstanding achievements in literary translation. The association's most prestigious award is the National Translation Award, which is given annually to a translator or team of translators for an outstanding translation of a literary work. The association also presents the Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for a Translation of a Literary Work, which is awarded to a translator or team of translators for an outstanding translation of a literary work from a language other than English. Other awards presented by the association include the Italian Prose in Translation Award, the Soeurette Diehl Fraser Award for Best Translation of a Book, and the Cliff Becker Book Prize in Translation. The association's awards are often presented in partnership with other literary organizations, including the PEN America, National Book Foundation, and Modern Language Association.

● Conferences

The American Literary Translators Association hosts an annual conference that brings together translators, writers, and publishers from around the world to discuss the latest developments and trends in literary translation. The conference features panels, workshops, and readings by prominent translators and writers, including Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, and Haruki Murakami. The association also hosts smaller conferences and events throughout the year, including the Translation Symposium and the Literary Translation Festival. These events provide opportunities for translators and writers to network, share their work, and learn from each other. The association's conferences are often held in partnership with other literary organizations, including the University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, and New York University.

● Membership

The American Literary Translators Association has a diverse membership that includes translators, writers, publishers, and literary critics from around the world. Members of the association receive a range of benefits, including access to the association's newsletter, directory of translators, and job listings. Members also receive discounts on registration fees for the association's conferences and events, as well as on submissions to the association's awards and prizes. The association has a strong presence on social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where it engages with members and promotes literary translation and the work of its members. The association's members include prominent translators and writers such as Donna Tartt, Michael Cunningham, and Junot Díaz.

● Publications

The American Literary Translators Association publishes a range of materials, including a newsletter, directory of translators, and anthologies of translated literature. The association's newsletter is published quarterly and features news, reviews, and articles on literary translation and the work of its members. The association's directory of translators is a comprehensive listing of translators and their specialties, and is available online and in print. The association also publishes anthologies of translated literature, including the Translation Review and the LIT Magazine. These publications provide a platform for translators and writers to showcase their work and for readers to discover new literary voices from around the world. The association's publications are often produced in partnership with other literary organizations, including the University of Texas Press, Oxford University Press, and Yale University Press.