Profile of a Linguist José Lambert Anyone who wished 10 consider the development of translation studies during 1 nor do heiter than examine the career of Professor José Lambert. of the Catholie University of Leuven in Be from a may literary jeium. His career has exemplified the broaden pproach and extending out 10 take of scope of this discipline, starting wide-ranging cultura? and society considerations. He himself has contributed in no smail measure to this development, and his Influence is now making itself feit in many different areas. He kas made the Catholic University of Lewven (Belgium) a renowned conve of translation research. José Lambert was born in the West Handess village cof Wingene, 20 km south of Bruges, in 1941. Be longing as he did to a Catholic tradition, he pursued his studies a the Catholic University in L siwdying Romance Philolowy. After obtaining his degree (licence) in 1967, He went on to take 3 doc- torate (1972), again in Romznce philology, but this time specialising in comparative literamure. He con- ccentrated in particular on the French-German liter ary relationship, focusing on how the German ro- mantic movement in Lterstuze was received in ‘France. The thesis was published in 1976, José Lambert speaks Dutch as his mothe tongue, ‘French as a major professional language, English and German as acquired languages, and he also has passive knowledge of Iclian, Spanish, some Portu- ‘guese, and some Afrikeans, Tn the course of his research for his doctorate he discovered trat literary scholars in general had in the ‘past paid comparatively litle attention to the phe- nomenon of translation, and on its influence on the development of national evltzres. This led him to fook more closely at this area, looking firstly at translations in French from German, but then going ‘0n to translations in general He went on in 1972 to join the teaching staff at Leaven, where he has remained since. Precisely at this time the University of Leoven (Louvain’ in French), 2 15th century foundation, was undergoing the upheaval ofa split into Datch- and Frenel-speak= ing halves. Alibough called “federatisation’ it viru- created two new universities ‘what liappened to Leaven at the beginning of the 1870s was a foreiasie of the “iederalisaion’ of the sich) and Walloon 19805, “entities” se Hewrnaionsl 28 José Lambert at Elsinore the surner of 1985. José Lambert taught @ course on compe terature and literary translation. It was possibly fi comparative literature. This innovation place because the university itself was a virtually ‘fresh creation, and because the teaching of romance philology at the university was totally new. The language picture in Belgium had a stcong influence As the fioews on th rit iden! ‘course in Busope on literary translation within sould ta a by hee role of eansh ec 2 need for eld, He ¢ barked on a studyHons J. Vermeer station theories in ling ised a colloquium on “literature and translation — new pexspectives in literary studies", whicl proved something of a breakthrough, and had an influence which has not ceased to reverberate. \t certainly + made fim. inio an intermtional figure. ‘Speakers ut this colloquium included Efim Eikind, James 8. Holmes, Raymond van den Broeck, André Lefevere and Susan Bassnen, plus amar Even-Lohe and his then pupil Gideon Toury from Tet Aviv, both perforring for the first time in a European frame. The ‘hwo latter scholars imtoduced their colleagues to the ystems theory, which came as something of and on norms by Toury re contained inthe proceed ings (Jamet 5. Holmes, José Lambert and Raymond ‘van dea Broeck, itor, Literature and Translation — neve perspectives in Tterary studies). This book, y= published by Acco in 1978, quickly sold oui and is nowy almost impossible t obuan. “This Lowven colloguivm was the forerunner 10 ¢ number of jniemational colloquia that have had 2 rajor influence on comparative literature studies. ‘Professor Lambert has slways remained based at Lenven, but he has slzo exercised = worldwide teaching activity. He has been 2 visting professor or researc fellow for a mimber of universities in other counties (University of Amstordam, the University Sorbonne Newelle Paris Il, Alberta University in Edmonton, Univenity of Peonsylvanis, New York University, Georg August University, Gouingeo, ‘end Namur) and an external examiner fortwo South African universities University of the Wit ‘wotersrand in Johanoesburg and the University of [Nata in South scien), as well s for Charles Univer- sity in Pragse, ‘a 1987 Jost Lambert stared the Penn-Leuven Taste for Literary and Cultural Stodies, 2 summer institute which ociginated in a joint ventare between the Catholic Universiy of Leuven and the Univer: sity of Peonsylvania. The insta included research fo eancaion, and during the three years it con- tinvally widened its scope moce and more from lit- erature joo euliure and society. It also started re- search on tanslation for the media, such as subtiding, « hitherto neglectes field. vity led! on to the ereation in 1989 of the sven, wich helped with carck on translotion, aid 1 now ringes far beyond just literary snolation. Harici= pants have come from five continents, and some of them have gone on to publish major works in this field. There is an intersational staff of supervisors usually including Dirk Delabessta, Lieven D hulst, Theo Hermau’, Andrecs Poltermann, Danie! Gile and, of course, José Lambert himself, But eacn year the activity has been led by 2 distinguished visiting ‘professor, and thelist is an impressive on: 1989 — Gideon Toury, 1990 — Hans J. Vermeer, 1991 — ‘Susan Bassnett, 1992 — Albrecht Neubert, 93 Danie! Gile, 1994 — Mary Snell-Hornby, 195 “André Lefevere. in 1995 the title was changed 10 CETRA, the Leuven Centre for Research on Trans- Ition, Communication and Culkures, (One of the latest developments, which emerged from CETRA, is Transcetra, a pilot project for a specialised graduate programme in translation stud jes using distance leaming. In this pilot project a ‘combination. of communication techniques is used, including videocoaferencing, telephone, facsimile, electronic mail and computer conferencing. The pro gam began with intensive e-mail discussions and a series of videvoonferences among a limited series of periners (called “centres of excellence”) in the su ‘mer of 1995, The partners in this to the Catholic University of Lenven and other Belgian universities include the Tndependent University of Baroclona, the ‘Tun Yopisto University in Turku (Finland), anit the University of Santiago de Composteia in Spain. ‘There are plans to extend this to other pares, such es ELTE in Budapest, and she Vienna University Justine for Translator and Interpreter Tining. Universities in Warwick, Tel Aviv and Sao Paolo (USP have also shown imerest. ‘The program is addressed to PhD students and teaching staff with 2 background in translation stud i, though in some cases advanced undergraduates, in in, The size of the groups will be around five to 15 stodents im esch centre. An e-mail list under the name CETRA lies been sct up and is reserved for discussions in this project. Anotier pos: sibility being considered is computer conferencing vie the World Wide Web or First Clas. Exeotera As woll a¢ teaching, and oF Hoquta, José Lambert has also published exten: sively (on everything iiling}. And he has also heen involved wath tea fg journals in tis fle Since its launch in 1989 lie has with Gideon Towry. of the translation » literary teaslation to sis journ Forger Jy involved in the foams 1 Trisiationremains & member of the executive committee (hue req) abd i Co-editor, with Daniel Gile, of the soci lay's newsletter For six years (19RS-1901) José Lambent was sec retary of the International Association for Compara tive Literaure, 2 post which led to warldwide con tacts and meetings, and worldwide paricipation in reseacl on comparative literatsre and, increasingly ss the years went by, translation. Since 1990 he has been assistant secretary of the Fédération Later- nationale des Langues et Linéranures Moslernex. ‘One of the main concemns he has with translation 4 with what he calls “implicit norms’. Jn his publica tons and in his Ieetures he is forever probing the values which lie behind the translation process, Tanslation is often w hidden factor, a hidden agent, cultural developmen — we need to identify and feveal wit its position is, what the imeruetions aze ie question of translation becomes imeresting, he ys, when we notice that Sv given euliral situations bere are no translations at afl, which results in the ponciusion dat nor-eranslaion can be a key prob jem: the very fact of non-unsiation mesns some: pine. Since the mid-1980s José Lamber ‘een widened 10 take in literature, communication, ‘wanslation and culture, and hance focusing more and ‘more on ibe role played by translation in the conter- porery world, in media, media business tc. The CERA and CETRA research schools ft very well {nto this evolution, being intended to promote fur oe | iques used in order to change. socicties; the chal Tenge is to identify who itis exactly who makes use of wansiation. ‘Ubiquity of translaion in the media society, he says, is not innocent at all and every solution to the prob- Jem of media tamslation is an itlusraion of the conscious use (by politiciznymanagers) of transia- sion a8 a way of (Fe)definng the rules of communica tion and hence of identity. tis quite nosmal that wherever transtation is: ‘used the rules arc partly unconscious, hence it is ‘quite nommal that discourse on translation is rather ‘exceptional and often unsystematic, even systemat cally impli Translation, he told one conference this summer, is peshaps too serious a matter 19 be left xo scholars in translation studies or I Longuage international hit bade erick in some ‘quarters for featuring too amy ‘Angle Saxon! ad oo many ‘wenslotors' in thie profi series, ond whet is true that there have been fer oes for linguists from the USA (a major come fer Li sales), and thre for the UK, other pars ofthe word, c= well as «range ofcsipines, rave beer reasonably well presented, The ful st is as follows (LI issue number ia brackets): USA, fours Joshi Fatman, secolinuistics {@.5); Laurence Urdang, leccogrephy (5.2) Ghaties Starsfeld, language tesing (6.2) Geoffrey Voght, language and busines (7.1) FRANCE, three: Jean Gachot, machine tansi- tion (1.6), Daniel Gouadec erminlogy an! twanslation (5.5), Louis Timbal. technical write ing. (66). UK, three: Peter Newmark, trandtion theory 2-4), Davie Crystal, Engish language (44). Toes MeActhur, English language (5.3) EUROPEAN COMMISSION, eo: Ey Brackeriers, trandation (22), Serge Perachke, machine translation (2.5) JAPAN, two: Takehite Yamamoto, machine ‘eandlaion (1.3); Makoto Ngan, machine twansation (42) CANADA, twer Diberite Fortier, commis sfoner for languages (14), Jean-rngois 1, ondiation (26). GERMANY, twe: Friedrich Krolimann, transi tion (6:1), John Graham, transition (6.6) ARGENTINA, one: Rierdo Naidch, ‘rane tion (62), BELGIUM, one: José Lambert, tranaton teaching (7-5). HUNGARY, one: Gyorgy Radé, trary trans faton (2.1). NETHERLANDS, one: Jaap van der Moer, ‘ransition (73) PORTUGAL, one: Renato Borges oa Souse, Tbnguage teaching and exh (1.5). SWITZERLAND, one: Seid Wyler, lene ge and business (5.6). UNITED NATIONS, one: Remco Krafft, tran ation (4.6), ‘Nominations for future profiles are welcomed