For the past ten years, the translators ‘ network Traduki supports the publication of literature from the Balkans. About 900 books have been translated with his support, and new standards were set.
Without Traduki Franz Kafka wouldn’t be in Serbian, Albanian or Croatian language appeared
If you ask the new Kosovo Ambassador in Berlin, Beqë Cufaj, what he likes about the translators ‘ network Traduki, then he responds promptly: “this is The best sustainable cultural project in the Balkans since the fall of the wall.” As a writer Cufaj even came to enjoy the promotion by Traduki. So the Translation of his last novel, project@party – from the award-winning Translator Joachim Röhm was transferred into German – also of Traduki subsidised.
It is a subsidy that increases the exuberant fee for Translators in the German-speaking countries, and so also the decisions of the publishers easier to bring works from less widely used languages on the market. The literature exchange between the Balkan countries themselves, but also with Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein.
Strong contracts
For the Translators from the Balkans, the grant of Traduki is the only fee you get. “It is twice or three times as high as the market price for literary translators in Albania”, explains Ana Kove from Tirana. With the support of Traduki, you could Paul Celan’s “poppy and memory” and Herta müller’s “heart animal” into Albanian transfer. “The contractual reliability of the Traduki has impressed me very much. For the Translators and the publishers of non-commercial literature Traduki is a great support, a unique experience,” says Kove.
Traduki is the Esperanto Translation, and the Name is program. The project was initiated ten years ago on the Initiative of the S. Fischer Foundation as a Public-Private Partnership. To make the Translation in the center, is the main concern of the network. “We can apply to publishers, but we have agreements with both publishers as well as Translators,” says Hana Stojic, head of the project of Traduki.
Hana Stojic: The Translation is in the center
“Once the Translation is approved and the sample translation has been positively reviewed, gets the Translator to a third of the fee paid. The Rest he gets, when the translated manuscript of Traduki-evaluators removed.” In addition, Traduki attaches great importance to the fact that the Name of the Translator or the Translator on the cover, appears and represents the rights to the Translation for the first five years after publication. Thereafter, the rights belong to the Translator.
Function as a role model in the Region
Ana Kove: possibility to work in peace
Over 900 books promoted the network so far, on this type, more than 800 of the grants went to Translations in the languages of South-Eastern Europe. They have not only contributed to the fact that in these countries, more challenging books and Translations on the market, but also the position of the Translator to the publishers enormously strengthened, as Mimoza Hysa, head of the book Department at the Albanian Ministry of culture in Tirana highlights.
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The Italian-Translator remembers the times before the Traduki, as no contracts with Translators were completed. Translator jobs were given only orally. “In the case of the supported Translations something is lost so often,” says Hysa. “Many publishers have entered in the funders higher fees for the Translation, as you in fact have paid.” The Albanian Ministry of culture have therefore, for his translation of the procedure support acquired by Traduki and contracts directly with the Translators. Meanwhile, some well-known publishers but the Translators of contracts.
Traduki is itself funded by the contributions of its members. Ten years ago, there were only four countries that have deposited in the Traduki-pot: Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia. In the meantime, have joined the network, more and more countries and institutions that regularly pay membership dues and are full members of act.
Add to that, Croatia, Albania, Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Liechtenstein have come. “Be encouraged in the countries of the Balkans, even without membership, but we are particularly pleased, if they want to voluntarily report and pay contributions,” says Antje Contius, co-founder of Traduki and Director of the S. Fischer Foundation, the coordinates of Berlin from the activities of Traduki.
Resistance due to Kosovo
For Antje Contius, there are many encounters between writers, Translators, and actors of the book of policy, which are also made possible by numerous agencies in the Region, the most beautiful side effect of Traduki. The climax of these encounters, the Leipzig book fair with many events and the audience magnet, the night of the Balkans.
Meetings at the Leipzig book fair: The Minister of culture of Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro
Soon Bulgaria will join the network. Then, only two Balkan countries are missing in the network. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. Prishtina’m trying to be for years members, the efforts fail but so far the resistance from Serbia. Belgrade refuses its former province of Kosovo as an independent state-recognize, says Antje Contius.
Only a few steps away from your Berlin office of the Embassy of Kosovo is located. The new house would not be satisfied with this Situation. To see Kosovo as a member of Traduki, the Traduki-Enthusiastic Beqe Cufaj on the top of the priority list.