One-Day National Seminar on "Cultural and Linguistic Challenges" held on 2nd May 2025

02-05-2025

The Department of English and Modern European Languages, SOHSS, Gautam Buddha University, organized a One-Day National Seminar on “Cultural & Linguistic Challenges in Translation” on May 2, 2025, at the International Convention Centre. The chief guest of the seminar, Prof. Sukrita Paul Kumar, noted poet and Guest Editor of Indian Literature, Sahitya Akademi’s journal, addressed on the liminality of literary translation, describing it as a space “in-between” the author’s meaning and the translator’s interpretation—shaped by the inherent ambiguity of literature. Prof. Sami Rafiq of Aligarh Muslim University, writer and translator, the Guest of Honour of the event, offered practical guidance on translation, particularly in dealing with culturally embedded terms. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rana Pratap Singh spoke about recent technological developments in translation, particularly a cutting- edge image-based translation tool that enables extracting textual meaning from visual material. Prof. Bandana Pandey, Dean of SOHSS, spoke on the inherent beauty of literature and the vital need for translation in a multilingual country like India, where linguistic mediation plays a key role in cultural exchange. The Head of the Department, Dr. Sumitra Huidrom highlighted the linguistic and cultural dimensions involved in the art of translation. The seminar witnessed active participation from students and ended successfully combining theoretical reflection and practical insight into translation, and promoting a deeper appreciation of the complexities involved in the transfer of meaning across languages.