Decolonial translation in Brasil

the dialogue between tradition and transmodernity – paths to descolonization

Abstract

In this text, we reflect on decolonial thinking in Latin America and how it has slowly infiltrated the traditional field of translation as well – whether in the spheres of theory, critique/analysis of translations and translation studies, or even in the more restricted field of translation practice – breaking colonial parameters in this field of study and its practical actions. The necessary focus within this broad theme turns to the actions of three Brazilian public universities in the interior of the country – not recognized by studies in the field of translation – in their decolonial actions. Our theoretical basis for the initial reflections on this theme, which is new in the field, considers the valuable seminal contributions of Fleck (2019); Berndt, Del Pozo González, Cerdeira (2021); Del Pozo González; Fleck (2023); Del Pozo González (2024); the considerable volume of theses and dissertations that comprise the NeiHD/Feira de Santana-BA, as well as the decolonial translation practices already carried out in the Group "Resignifications of the Past in America," by Fleck (2020; 2022), Del Pozo González (2023) and the most recent interinstitutional actions in this academic field, promoted by the formulators of this strand of translation studies and practices that we focus on here. The bibliographic research we conducted and the analyses addressed reveal the relevance of this innovation in the field of Translation in Brazil as a necessary path of decolonization so that decoloniality, as enunciated by Castro Gómez and Grosfoguel (2007), can, in fact, reach those essential areas that the first decolonization – the territorial one of the nineteenth century – left intact in our societies originating from the colonial system.