Introduction: Translation and migration

This Handbook deals with the ever-evolving practices and attitudes surrounding migration and translation, redefining these two terms in light of their intricate intersections and recurring connections. With an interdisciplinary and transnational perspective, the volume highlights the broad scope of migration and translation not only as linguistic and geographical phenomena, but also cultural, social, artistic and psychological processes. The book’s strong focus on the link between translation and migration reflects the growing recognition of the influence of multilingualism on promoting social cohesion and inclusivity. It also reflects a shift in translation studies away from a rigid conceptualisation of translation as a binary transfer – defined by inherent dichotomies and unidirectional movement – towards exploring issues of power, agency and visibility. The volume reveals how migration challenges limited conceptualisations of identity and belonging by resisting containment within specific linguistic and cultural spaces, thereby also exposing the limitations of monolingual, monocultural models of nationhood. Through a diverse range of approaches and methodologies, the individual chapters investigate specific historical circumstances, how the unequal distribution of translation labour is associated with power asymmetries and social inequalities, and the need for an intersectional approach to the question of language access that acknowledges the ethical complexities inherent in language mediation. Ultimately, this volume highlights the inherently political nature of translation and its potential to shape social and cultural inclusion, emphasising the crucial role of language and translation in informing professional practice, institutional policies, educational approaches and community attitudes towards migration, and thereby contributing to ongoing global discussions on linguistic hospitality and diversity.