Vol. 20 (2024): Exploring Indigenous Australian literature in other languages

Indigenous Australian literature started gaining international attention in the late 1970s, when works written by Indigenous authors from Australian and New Zealand began to be translated into various languages (Čerče & Haag 2013), including English which often acted as a source text for translations into LOTEs (languages other than English). These works have played an important role in promoting and advocating for the rich culture and history of the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. The AALITRA Review is launching a special issue to promote and celebrate their vibrant cultures, languages and traditions. 

The issue also includes non-thematic contributions: one theoretical article, translation & Commentary of a Chinese chronicle, a Russian autobiographical prose, a French poem, two book reviews and, for the first time, a Translator’s Diary, which is a new type of submissions we called for this year. The inaugural diary is by eminent French into English literary translator, Emeritus Professor Brian Nelson.

We are also very pleased to publish two of this year’s winning AALITRA translation awards: a poem in French by Marilyne Bertoncini translated by Heidi Bula and Shiva Motlagh-Elbakri into English.