Presentation - Koldo Biguri

From 1992 on SENEZ magazine will be a yearly magazine – such is, at any rate, our intention. That doesn’t mean, however, that we’re not publishing any more special issues, as was the case with the one covering the analysis and conclusion of the seminar organised by EIZIE in San Sebastian within the framework of the Summer Courses of the University of the Basque Country. This is the first outcome of this new era - an abundant and, in the opinion of those of us producing the magazine, an interesting outcome.

Among the most important topics in this issue, and following the decision to interview people related to translation, we offer you an interview given by writer Andu Lertxundi to Juan Garzia. In it we can see the approach of a Basque writer, and reading it could be of interest for writers and translators alike, since it denounces the gap between these groups in our little world of Basque literature. The reader will also find some nice ideas on literary Basque, which could be food for thought.

Then comes a long and superb paper by professor and translator Agustín García Calvo on the history of translation, published in 1973, and now translated into Basque. We are publishing it convinced that it ought to be one of the basic theoretical readings for Basque translators as well; besides, nowadays it’s almost impossible to find the Spanish original.

The next two articles are more practical, though. In the first one some comments are made on the teachings of traductologist Peter Newmark, and «tips» -as referred to in the very title of the article- and examples are offered to translators. The second one, on the other hand, focuses and pivots on poetry translation, and it’s the paper delivered by a Basque poet and translator at a seminar organised by EIZIE; it also provides plenty of examples.

In the last of the introductory topics we are informed, for the first time in SENEZ, about the translation carried out in some political institutions –Government and Parliament- in Navarre. The authors take on a much more pragmatic approach.

Concerning the «Puntuz puntu» section, it’s worth mentioning that it includes the project for a professional status for Spanish translators and interpreters, a long-standing demand by those of us working in the profession. Terminology has also its space in this issue, and we are informed of the practical work being carried out, as a result of the agreement that the Basque Administration Institute (IVAP) and UZEI have signed with a view to unifying and coordinating research in this field. Besides, some reflections are expressed on the masters in translation organised by the University of the Basque Country and the Deusto University, each written from the point of view of its author. There’s no doubt that other and different opinions exist, and, needless to say, the magazine will be very pleased to receive them.

As for the rest of the articles, there are a few news items concerning EIZIE, the most important of them being that in 1993 our Association will be accepted as a member in the European Board of Associations of Literary Translators.

Therefore, we are sure that the reader will find much to learn and interesting teachings in this issue of SENEZ.