source ________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ B TW Letter from the Editor Our Fall 2009 issue features “Translating the Armenian Genocide,” a moving portrait of aging descendents of the survivors residing in Syria, ex- cerpted from Deir-Zor, the work of French-Armenian photographer Bardig Kouyoumdjian and French journalist Christine Simeone. By-the-Way reg- ular Tony Beckwith (“¡Gringo!”) teams up with Argentine writer Fernando Sorrentino (“El nación in Gaucho Lingo”) to study two faces of the coin- ing of terms for foreigners south of the Texas border. “ATA Members Do- nate Stories” highlights the generous contributions of ATA members Michele A. Berdy, Liv Bliss, Nora Favorov, and Marian Schwartz to an anthology benefiting Russian hospices. Describing a successful ATA conference at the end of October, outgoing LD Administrator Enrica Ardemagni has post- ed her farewell letter in these pages. And lastly, I would like to express my thanks to Diane Goullard Parlante for her helpful proofreading of this issue. Sincerely, Michele Aynesworth www.mckayaynesworth.com ata Source Michele Aynesworth has spe- Published by the Literary Division of ATA cialized in translating Argen- American Translators Association tine authors, notably Roberto 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Arlt, Fernando Sorrentino, Alexandria, VA 22314 Edgar Brau, and Guillermo Saavedra. Her translation of Editor: Michele Aynesworth Roberto Arlt’s novel Mad Toy was honored as a finalist Submissions (Word document or Text file) for the Soeurette-Diehl Fra- for the Winter 2010 issue may be sent to ser Translation Award. Edi- [email protected]. tor of the ATA’s Beacons 10 and Source, she recently pub- Deadline for the Winter issue is January 15. lished Blue on Rye, a collec- Please include a photo tion of her poetry and blues and brief bio of 2 or 3 sentences. songs, and is now translat- ing a French war journal by All previously unpublished material Charles Rist thanks to a 2009 copyright © the respective authors. NEA grant. SOURCE 2 FALL 2009 IN THIS ISSUE Cover: Tony Beckwith’s BTW Cartoon Letter from the Editor ............................................. 2 From the LD Administrator .....................................4 ATA Members Donate Stories...................................6 By the Way: ¡Gringo! “Beckwith Writes”...........................................................8 “El nación” in Gaucho Lingo Fernando Sorrentino........................................................11 Translating the Armenian Genocide Excerpts and photos from Deir-Zor by Bardig Kouyoumdjian and Christine Simeone ....................17 SOURCE 3 FALL 2009 From the ld administrator Dear Literary Division Members: followed by numerous questions This is my parting letter for the regarding everything from deciding LD newsletter as I am completing on how to select the correct word The Literary Division my four years as Literary Division in a translation to her discipline Administrator. And although working as a translator since Officers somewhat sad, I will always stay she left academia in 1990. Her connected, especially after the presentation was followed by a invigorating success of Literary book-signing sponsored by Freek Division activities at the 2009 Lankhoff of Intrans Book Service. ATA conference. The 11th Annual At the 2008 LD Business meeting Marilyn Gaddis Rose Lecture was those in attendance brainstormed a presented by the distinguished special activity for the celebration translator, Edith Grossman. Ms. of the 50th anniversary of the Grossman is an award-winning ATA conference. Phyllis Zatlin, a translator specializing in English long-standing member and well- versions of Spanish language known translator, recommended books and one of the most presenting a play. After much help Administrator: predominant and prolific translators from ATA administrators, Rutgers Enrica Ardemagni of Latin American fiction. University, and Pace University, [email protected] Ms. Grossman gave a provocative this became a reality. Professor presentation on “Why Translation Ruis Woertendkye from the theatre Assistant Administrator: Matters,” which is also the title of department of Pace University her forthcoming book, to a standing- selected and directed scenes Montserrat Zuckerman room-only audience (which also from J. L. Alonso de Santos’ La [email protected] included about 20 people sitting estanquera de Vallecas (Hostages on the floor). In her presentation in the Barrio, trans. Phyllis Zatlin) In addition to having served she discussed the importance of for the occasion. Although he does two terms as Administrator literary translation to readers and not know Spanish himself, he of ATA’s Literary Division, writers. Her presentation was identified two student actors who Enrica Ardemagni is Asso- could portray a key scene ciate Professor of Spanish and from this tragicomedy Director of the Certificate in both English and in Translation Studies at Indiana University Purdue Spanish. John Ceballos University Indianapolis, is a and Michelle Ferreira board member of the National gave an outstanding Council on Interpreting in performance of a scene Health Care, Chair of the in English and then in Indiana Commission on Spanish. Other scenes Health Care Interpreters and were presented as staged Translators, and Chair of the readings in English with Communications Committee Professor Woertendyke of the Midwest Association of Edith Grossman (L) with Marilyn Gaddis Rose Translators and Interpreters. SOURCE 4 FALL 2009 and Lilah Shreeve. As Phyllis Zatlin stated, “The They provided considerable insights into what is ATA members who attended the theatre event involved in acting and staging a translated play. responded enthusiastically to the performance. It Six other sessions rounded out the Literary should be noted that among these spectators were Division sessions at this year’s conference. On some who normally do not attend sessions sponsored Thursday evening there were some 20 literary read- by the Literary Division. Our purpose in scheduling ings with an audience of about 60 during the after- a theatre performance was to break down the barriers hours Literary Café. Approximately thirty members between the literature group and other areas of attended the LD annual business meeting and dis- specialization (legal, medical, etc.) Thanks to the cussed the option of offering bilingual efforts of Prof. Woertendyke, we were able to do readings either through a regular session or as a more organized Literary Café. Newly-elected Literary Division Administrator Emilia Balke The Literary Division installed the new Administrator, Emilia Balke, and Performers (L to R) Ruis Woertendkye, Lilah Assistant Administrator, Dr. Rashid Hasan. Shreeve, John Ceballos, Michelle Ferreira I close by giving tremendous thanks to those who so.” The staging/staged reading was followed by have been of assistance over the past four years: a lively 90-minute panel discussion that included Montserrat Zuckerman, Assistant Administrator, translator Phyllis Zatlin, Professor Gregary “Gary” Myriam Young, Webmaster, and Michele Racz, and Professor Woertendyke and his cast. Aynesworth, editor of Beacons X and Source. I do not say goodbye, but until our next conference. Enrica J. Ardemagni During the panel discussion (L to R), play translator Phyllis Zatlin, Michelle Ferreira, John Ceballos, Lilah Shreeve, Ruis Woertendkye. SOURCE 5 FALL 2009 ATA members donate stories to benefit Russian hospice program LIFE STORIES An imprint of Russian Life Books Russian Life, in collaboration with the www.storiesforgood.org Russian Arts Foundation, Vera Hospice Fund, and Galina Dursthoff Literary Agency, has published Life Stories, a special short story collection of works by 19 of Russia’s most acclaimed contemporary authors, translated by fourteen prom- inent American and British translators. All proceeds will be donated to benefit hospice care in Russia. ATA members Michele A. Berdy, Liv Bliss, Nora Favorov, and Marian Schwartz, as well as Alexei Bayer, Lise Brody, Anne Fisher, Deborah Hoffman,Michael Katz, Peter Morley, Susanna Nazarova, Anna Razumnaya- Seluyanova, Paul E. Richardson, Bela Shayevich and Nina Shevchuk contributed their time and talent to the anthology. SOURCE 6 FALL 2009 The authors included in this collection are: trying to raise money for institutions that Dmitry Bykov, Vladimir Voinovich, Andrey are in great financial difficulty, but which Gelasimov, Boris Grebenshchikov, Yevgeny are really quite inexpensive to run. But we Grishkovets, Victor Yerofeyev, Alexander are also trying to raise awareness of the Kabakov, Eduard Limonov, Dmitry Lipskerov, importance of hospice care within Russia Sergey Lukyanenko, Vladimir Makanin, and abroad.” Every writer he asked donated Marina Moskvina, Victor Pelevin, Ludmila a short story for the collection. So far over Petrushevskaya, Zakhar Prilepin, Dina 5 million rubles (approximately $165,000) Rubina, Dunya Smirnova, Vladimir Sorokin, has been presented to the Vera Hospice Alexander Khurgin and Leonid Yuzefovich. Fund from the sale of the Russian editions. The modern hospice movement, which began The Russian edition, published in March over 40 years ago in Britain and quickly spread 2009, was hailed by critics in Russia as around the world, is relatively new in Russia. “the best of contemporary Russian fiction.”