Translations

TRANSLATIONS 291 Also interesting, for our purposes here, is the fact that the Egoyan volume for the most part exemplifies the ways in which play publishing in Canada generally falls short, primarily, one suspects, for financial reasons (the filmscI'ipts are almost prohibitively expensive). Exotica is complete with a long and lucid introductory essay by critic Geoff Pevere, which reviews Egoyan's career and valuably places the film within the context of the filmmaker's Cfuvre, his biography, and his national and international reception. It also includes a useful interview with Egoyan, carried out after the release and success of the film, and a complete and detailed filmography , together with eleven full-colour production stills (a feature the publication shares with Thirty-Two Short Films). Would that play publications could be so generous, particularly in that, while copies of these fihns remain and are readily available, the reconstruction ofplays in production is not so easily accomplished. The problem, apart from economics, is presumably the one reflected in the publication of this review in a 'Letters in Canada' issue of a scholarly journal: we still tend to regard play scripts primarily for their significance as dramatic literature rather than as traces of, or collaborators in, theatrical events. Translations JANE KOUSTAS In his 1977 study, Philip Stratford notes, 'It is strange that a country like ours which has accepted the idea of fostering two languages and two cultures for over 200 years should have made such a small contribution in the way of translation.' He adds, 'Canada has as yet no tradition in literary translation' (Bibliography ofCanadian Books in Translation: French to English and English to French). Recent publications suggest that some twenty years later, Canadian translation scholars and translators have made a Significant contribution to the field and have indeed built the tradition for which Stratford, one of Canada's most eminent translators, yearned. His bibliography lists a total of 640 literary titles translated either from French to English or vice versa. It is significant that between 1988 and 1992 over a thousand books in translation were published in the literature category alone, including books written or translated in languages other than English and French. As important as the increase in the number of titles are the new directions translation practice and translation studies, the relatively new field of study of la traductologie are taking. Stratford discussed only translations between English and French, a focus that corresponded to the situation at the time. However, between 1988 and 1992, 184 titles were translated either from or to other languages, thus surpassing the French-toEnglish category in which 139 books are noted in 'Canadian Translations,' 292 LETTERS IN CANADA 1995 the list issued by the National Library ofCanada. Canadian translators and publishers are working more and more with other languages as a result of both Canada's Significant immigrant population and of the international reputation of its translators: books originally published outside of Canada are now being translated here. Significant as well is the increased recognition of the translation ofchildren's literature. As a result ofthese trends, the collection of literature in translation, which includes new authors and 'old favourites/ continues to grow. Finally, Canadian translation scholars have produced important studies that affirm not ,only Canada's translation tradition, but its reputation as an important contributor to international translation studies. A landmark book, Les traducteurs dans l'histoire (Les Presses de l'Universite d'Ottawa/Editions UNESCO, 348,$30.00) establishes Canadian scholars' position on the forefront of translation studies. Under the direction of coeditors Jean Delisle (Universite d'Ottawa) and Judith Woodsworth (Concordia University), an international team of forty-five researchers, and additional translators and readers, has written a study of the historical role and importance of translators and translation. The book explores the ways in which, throughout history and all across the world, translators contributed to language, literature, and cultural exchange: they created alphabets, built national languages, contributed to national literature, spread knowledge and information, influenced politics, spread religion, imported cultural values, wrote dictionaries, and, as privileged witnesses, acted as interpreters in moments of great historical importance. Carefully selected illustrations, a valuable bibliography, meticulous references and cross references, lists of suggested...