Reaching out to touch the world

The European Translation Centre - Literature and Human Sciences (EKEMEL) was born with the intention of a closer contact between Greek and foreign literatures, through numerous and diverse activities.

According to this Greek translators association, one of its aims, as far as studies are concerned, is “to nurture a new generation of translators and to help improve the quality of literary translation and of texts relating to the Human Sciences”. For that, the translation centre holds courses that “place particular emphasis on translation practice and on the transmission of experience by established translators.”

Also for this purpose, EKEMEL runs translation workshops from a variety of languages, such as English, German, Italian, Turkish or Arabic, to Greek and vice versa, “with provision to be made for other languages”.

Generally speaking, this translation association aims to promote the profession as a creative activity, both nationally and internationally. At the same time, it wishes to foment the communication and the co-operation of professionals but also other interested individuals who are active in translating literature and humanities. “The development of translation studies, the promotion of Greek books abroad, the encouragement of translation from Greek into other languages and from foreign languages into Greek, the strengthening of cultural ties and exchanges, the cooperation and dialogue between writers and translators and between organisations in Greece and abroad” are also priorities.

At the moment, there are five source language options in EKEMEL’s list of two-year translation courses. They are English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. The Greek translators association also holds translation seminars from Greek to other languages and special translation workshops from Turkish and Russian into Greek.

In 2009/10, EKEMEL ran its first distance learning programme.

The main concern of the organisation is to “promote a new generation of translators and contribute to the improvement of the quality of translation in the field of literature and the humanities”. EKEMEL’s studies of translation are specialised in “the act of translation, the learning process and the dissemination of the experience of recognised translators”.

EKEMEL organises annual translation prizes in five different languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish) in collaboration with several international organisations present in Athens. The Greek association is also responsible for publishing Apiliotis, an e-zine on literature and humanities published once every four months. Moreover, it is responsible for the Marios Ploritis annual Theatrical Translation Prize.

The Houses of Literature

EKEMEL has two “houses of literature” in very scenic parts of Greece.

In Paros, EKEMEL has been collaborating with the municipality since 2003, when both organised a series of literary translation workshops. It was the success of this event that made the association “decide to establish a permanent centre for writers and translators”. The House of Literature, in the village of Lefkes, was inaugurated in 2004. It “offers hospitality to writers and translators from all over the world”.

The House of Literature of Crete is situated at the foot of Selena mountain, which is 600 metres high. Once again, it comes as a result of EKEMEL’s collaboration with the local municipality. This relationship began in 2009, culminating in the renovation and consequent use of Malia’s old primary school. In this case, priority will be given to Greek authors and translators of Greek literature into foreign languages.

Keep in mind that Greek is part of the Indo-European family of languages. It has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history. The language is used as a native idiom by 13 million people.

LEXIS INFORMS:
When you fill-in your profile details to become a Lexis member, always choose your mother tongue as your working language. Lexis – Connections with meaning

Read other news about Translators Associations in Europe