Approaches to Translation & Transmission

Marcus Perman2022-11-16T23:34:12-07:00

In this session, two world-renowned specialists in the area of translation and translation theory engaged in discussion with Buddhist studies scholars Luis Gomez and Jonathan Gold. Luis Gomez begins the session with a wide ranging and detailed speech on translation theory and practice, including challenges faced by the translator of a family of discourses that try to be both specialized and inspirational, as well as translation into more than one language and what that may reveal about the nature of the “source” and the “target” texts. Jonathan Gold then provides a short discussion of Sakya Pandita’s insights on translation. In […]

Approaches to Translation & TransmissionMarcus Perman2022-11-16T23:34:12-07:00

Working with the Medium of the English Language

Marcus Perman2022-10-26T05:38:51-06:00

A craft person’s medium is one of the most essential aspects of their work. Although translators spend much of their time learning the Tibetan language, the target language is just as important when looking at the final product of a meaningful translation that reaches modern readers. Spend a session with master translators Thupten Jinpa and Wulstan Fletcher exploring the essential medium of communication in the modern world.

Working with the Medium of the English LanguageMarcus Perman2022-10-26T05:38:51-06:00

Accuracy and Inspiration: Translating Mahamudra Texts

Marcus Perman2022-10-26T05:39:16-06:00

The craft of translation often involves the tension between the need for accuracy and the need to express inspirational text in appropriately inspirational language. In this session, Elizabeth Callahan shares her experience wrestling with these issues on her work with Dakpo Tashi Namgyal’s Moonbeams of Mahāmudrā (Phyag chen zla ba’i ‘od zer) and the Ninth Karmapa’s Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance (Ma rig mun sel). Professor Mathes discusses difficulties arising from translating quotations of Indian texts found in Tibetan works, such as Phyag rgya chen po gsal sgron and the Zla ba’i ‘od zer.

Accuracy and Inspiration: Translating Mahamudra TextsMarcus Perman2022-10-26T05:39:16-06:00

Oddities and Curiosities in Tibetan Translation

Marcus Perman2022-10-26T05:41:02-06:00

“What is an oddity,” you ask? How odd of you to ask! We all know what oddities are when we see them. It may be a subjective response, but it’s there all the same. The odd thing seems out of place, it sits there glaring out at you without an obvious explanation. Every problem has its solution, or so it’s sometimes said, but that doesn’t mean they always will be solved.

The co-organizers take turns presenting oddities from among their personal favorites. The range of possible oddities, which seems beyond all limit, were narrowed down to more manageable categories that […]

Oddities and Curiosities in Tibetan TranslationMarcus Perman2022-10-26T05:41:02-06:00

Using Technology Skillfully: Resources for Translators

Marcus Perman2018-05-31T23:34:40-06:00

This special session will be of interest to translators looking to learn more about current resources available for Tibetan translation, including digital libraries, databases for canonical research, computer assisted translation tools, SmartCAT, Tibetan OCR, and other Tibetan text resources.

Resources described in the session are:

Timeless Treasuries, a Tsadra Foundation Initiative;
The Rinchen Terdzo Chenmo collection, a Tsadra Foundation project;
The Damngak Rinpoche Dzo collection, a Tsadra Foundation project;
Paul Hackett’s Columbia University Buddhist Canons Research Database;
SmartCAT for Tibetan translators: ten minute demo from Dirk Schmidt of Esukhia;
[…]

Using Technology Skillfully: Resources for TranslatorsMarcus Perman2018-05-31T23:34:40-06:00

Approaches to Transmission in the West: New Voices and Old Traditions

Marcus Perman2018-05-24T04:06:03-06:00

What does genuine transmission of Tibetan Buddhism to the west look like? How can we be active participants in this process? What role do translators and Western teachers have in this globalized process? What is transmission, really? Two Western teachers and two translators will discuss all these issues and more in this wonderful meeting of minds.

Approaches to Transmission in the West: New Voices and Old TraditionsMarcus Perman2018-05-24T04:06:03-06:00

The Editorial Process Throughout Creation and Completion Stages

Marcus Perman2022-10-30T21:57:42-06:00

In this final session of the 2017 Translation & Transmission Conference, editors from different publishers and projects discuss a number of useful ideas and tools (such as the all important Chicago Manual of Style) that translators who wish to publish their work should know about and pay attention to. Key themes presented in this session are: 1) Types of editors and “editing”; 2) Process/timing of editing; 3) The view of the editor/publisher and the importance of communicating that view to the translator; 4) Translating, editing, and publishing; 5) Editing as integral to translation and transmission.

The Editorial Process Throughout Creation and Completion StagesMarcus Perman2022-10-30T21:57:42-06:00