Presentation

This term marks ten years of existence for the Martutene Translators’ School. The School was, apart from other courses having been imparted in the meantime, the first permanent institution created with the aim of guiding, analysing and teaching in the field of Basque translation.

On the occasion of this anniversary, it was decided that some reflection on the situation of translation studies in our country should be attempted in this issue. Indeed, besides celebrating the anniversary, new developments are happening in translation studies that might bring about big changes: in lieu of the institutions that so far were in charge of translation studies, steps have been taken in order to have these included in university studies. There have been contacts to this end with the University of the Basque Country and, on the other hand, the University of Deusto has started offering a Master in Translation.

However, by integrating these studies into the university system, not all the present problems are solved, as if by magic. Unfortunately, we know that the University also functions as a self-reproducing apparatus - indeed, that is the concern of many academics. And this concern is more generalised in the field of Humanities. Now that translation studies are about to be provided by Spanish universities, more interests are arising, mostly interests dealing with recycling inside the academic apparatus (recycling interests of philologists, as is being denounced by translators), more than interests in spreading knowledge about translation and offering valuable teaching.

We fear that in our case similar interests might arise, and that, just as Basque translation has its specificities, translation learning and teaching, which should also have their special features, might be threatened by unconfessed and unconfessable apparatus interests disguised as academicism.

The teaching system to be organised for the training of Basque translators has to respond to the needs of Basque translation, so these needs have to be thoroughly investigated first: market needs, knowledge needs, recycling needs, status needs. Translation studies from any language into any other, although they need some common knowledge, since translation is always an act of communication, are more connected with the specific language situation where this communication takes place than any other studies dealing with language. But in the case of Basque, its sociolinguistic situation is different from that of neighbouring languages, quite peculiar, especially if compared with the languages of countries around us that have translators’ schools.

Therefore, in this issue where we want to celebrate the ten years of the Martutene Translators’ School, a special effort has been made to research into the special features that translators’ studies ought to take into account if they are to be effective and productive in the context of the peculiarities that Basque translation has by its own nature.

Besides, we have gathered a few special articles on topics of interest for translators, such as the different types of interference occurring in translations, or other theoretical or practical points. The documents that, on behalf of EIZIE and others, have been presented to different institutions are also included, since they contribute to offer a sharper view on Basque translation.

Good luck!

The SENEZ magazine is changing. Until recently it has been published by the Martutene Translators’ School, which used to appoint the director. Since the previous issue, however, the EIZIE Association is in charge. As the Association evolves and consolidates, it is only natural that the work to do, which has normally been done by a few, is taken on by more people. In the same way as EIZIE’s Executive Board is renewed every year, the time has also come for this SENEZ to change.

In the previous issue, when the Association took over the ownership of the magazine, the editing team was renewed, including representatives from the different sections in EIZIE. Now it’s time to change the director. The work so far carried out by J.M. Zabaleta, teacher at the Martutene Translators’ School and secretary of EIZIE, will now be undertaken by Koldo Biguri, translator at Gasteiz Council and teacher at the Public Administration Translators’ School (IVAP). It’s not his first experience directing a magazine: he has proven his worth, knows translation and interpretation from his workplace and has plenty of ideas – so SENEZ is in good hands and the change of director will be for the best.

I stand up, then, and leave my chair to Koldo, facing a telephone and a computer screen.