Quiet Activism: Contributing to Global Change through the Power of Translation
When you hear the word ‘activism’, you probably think of people standing in the public square, megaphones in hand, shouting and shrieking about the latest social issues. Rowdy, fired up, fearless individuals risking it all to have their voices heard.
The world needs this.
Merriam-Webster defines activism as “a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue.” But activism comes in many forms. I would argue that activism does not have to be vigorous.
Maybe you have the courage to disagree with family members or colleagues on the big issues, or perhaps you volunteer with a local charity that fights for women’s rights or works to battle racism in our schools. Or maybe you use your social media platforms to spread messages that are important to you.
The world needs this, too.
What about the quiet activists, the ones who work diligently behind the scenes to bring justice to a broken world? The poets, writers, clergymen and women, the artists, dancers, playwrights and healers? What about the translators?
The Role of the Translator throughout History
Translators have been at the forefront of social change since the beginning of time. In the early days, the work of a translator included passing along highly sensitive messages, military strategies, and insights into ancient texts.
According to an article published on Trusted Translations, the first book of Chinese medicine was written during the Han Dynasty (206 BC), when translation became a tool for spreading knowledge from foreign lands. Various physiological and pathological phenomena were explained, leading to “over 365 drugs being recorded in detail: more than 252 were of plant origin, 67 of animal origin and 46 of mineral origin.”
St. Jerome translated the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin in 405. Until that time, the sacred scriptures were only accessible to a miniscule part of the world. St. Jerome’s translation work made it possible for the ‘common people’ to have access to the divine word of God.
Constance Garnett was responsible for translating literary masterpieces like Tolstoy, and Sacagawea ensured flawless communication between the explorers and the Shoshone tribe during the Lewis and Clark expedition.
When Amanda Gorman delivered her groundbreaking inaugural poem The Hill We Climb at the United States presidential inauguration in 2021, a hot debate exploded about which translators would have the honor of transcribing this vital and heart-moving message to the global masses, and in turn, of playing a crucial role in the writing of history.
Translation as a Tool for Activism
Translators are the quiet activists, tirelessly working behind the scenes to give a voice to the marginalized, the oppressed, the silenced and the ostracized. Bringing ancient texts to life, shedding light on the social issues of our time, giving a voice to those who would normally never be heard.
Against a backdrop of volatility, explosive politics and heated debates over a whole range of social issues, it can be scary to speak up or stand in the square with your fellow human beings to fight local policies or defend the oppressed. Yet it’s crucial that we use our voice to move the issues to the forefront, to honor what we know is right and to give power to those who have none.
We can do this through translation.
Conclusion
The translator has the power to build bridges between cultures, religions, and peoples. Translation gives us a glimpse into the world of another, of those that feel ‘other’ or ‘foreign’, and helps us see life through their perspective.
Translators have played a central role in the development of society since the earliest of days, offering access to divine texts, bringing innovative medicines to new parts of the world, leading expeditions, shedding light on injustice and making way for a global network of communication and connection.
As a French to English and German to English professional translator, it is the honor of my life to collaborate with thought leaders and justice activists to bring social and cultural texts into the global history books.
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Cynthia Pecking is a professional French and German freelance translator specializing in creative content, arts and literature, with a Masters of Arts in Translation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in California. She has spent the past 13 years helping clients expand their message. She is based in Hattingen, Germany, where she lives with her husband and two children.