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Chapter 10. The interpreter as “anti-hero”

Interpreters’ memoirs and their contribution to constructing a history of interpreting
  • Michaela Wolf
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Towards an Atlas of the History of Interpreting
This chapter is in the book Towards an Atlas of the History of Interpreting

Abstract

Research on interpreters as authors of autobiographies has typically focused on the interpreting activity in authoritarian regimes, in trials, or diplomacy. A great number of the author-interpreters portray a hero figure positioned in often close relationship with the person in power. This chapter deals with another kind of interpreter figure who I will call “anti-hero”. The settings explored are the Great War, the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War, and Nazi concentration camps, as depicted in the interpreters’ memoirs. The chapter aims to elaborate on the main features of these anti-hero interpreters based on the framework proposed by Sidonie Smith and Julia Watson (2010), who suggest a set of concepts helpful for understanding the dynamic processes of autobiographical subjectivity, including memory, experience, or agency.

Abstract

Research on interpreters as authors of autobiographies has typically focused on the interpreting activity in authoritarian regimes, in trials, or diplomacy. A great number of the author-interpreters portray a hero figure positioned in often close relationship with the person in power. This chapter deals with another kind of interpreter figure who I will call “anti-hero”. The settings explored are the Great War, the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War, and Nazi concentration camps, as depicted in the interpreters’ memoirs. The chapter aims to elaborate on the main features of these anti-hero interpreters based on the framework proposed by Sidonie Smith and Julia Watson (2010), who suggest a set of concepts helpful for understanding the dynamic processes of autobiographical subjectivity, including memory, experience, or agency.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Voices from around the world 1
  4. Chapter 2. Indigenous interpreters on trial in the Spanish Empire 25
  5. Chapter 3. Interpreters of Mapudungun and the Chilean State during the 1880–1930 period 53
  6. Chapter 4. An overview of the role of interpreters during the Portuguese expansion through Africa (1415–1600) 81
  7. Chapter 5. Mediating a complex cultural matrix 120
  8. Chapter 6. Interpreting with “human sympathy” 145
  9. Chapter 7. The colonized in conflict 171
  10. Chapter 8. Interpreters of mission 193
  11. Chapter 9. Domesticating dragomans 212
  12. Chapter 10. The interpreter as “anti-hero” 238
  13. Chapter 11. When the armies went back home 268
  14. Chapter 12. Conclusion 288
  15. Biographical notes 296
  16. Place index 300
  17. Name index 302
  18. Language index 305
  19. Subject index 306
  20. Image index 309
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.159.10wol

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Voices from around the world 1
  4. Chapter 2. Indigenous interpreters on trial in the Spanish Empire 25
  5. Chapter 3. Interpreters of Mapudungun and the Chilean State during the 1880–1930 period 53
  6. Chapter 4. An overview of the role of interpreters during the Portuguese expansion through Africa (1415–1600) 81
  7. Chapter 5. Mediating a complex cultural matrix 120
  8. Chapter 6. Interpreting with “human sympathy” 145
  9. Chapter 7. The colonized in conflict 171
  10. Chapter 8. Interpreters of mission 193
  11. Chapter 9. Domesticating dragomans 212
  12. Chapter 10. The interpreter as “anti-hero” 238
  13. Chapter 11. When the armies went back home 268
  14. Chapter 12. Conclusion 288
  15. Biographical notes 296
  16. Place index 300
  17. Name index 302
  18. Language index 305
  19. Subject index 306
  20. Image index 309
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