Traduire en temps de guerre - Christine Lombez et Pauline Giocanti

Traduire en temps de guerre - Christine Lombez et Pauline Giocanti

by Christine Lombez et Pauline Giocanti

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Language & Linguistics CFLinguisticsCFPTranslation and language interpretation
🎙 Christine Lombez et Pauline Giocanti 👥 157K 📅 February 23, 2026 ⏱ 29 min 👁 333 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-06
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

traductionrésistanceSeconde Guerre mondialelittératurecensure

Summary

In this conference talk, Christine Lombez and Pauline Giocanti discuss the role of literary translation as an act of resistance during World War II. They begin by contextualizing the German occupation of France and the establishment of censorship lists (Listes Otto) that prohibited translation of modern Anglo-Saxon literature. They highlight examples of resistance through translation, such as the Algerian-based journal Fontaine publishing a special issue on American literature in 1943, and the clandestine anthology ‘Les Bannis’ published by Éditions de Minuit in 1944, which featured exiled German poets. They also examine the case of translator Maxime Alexandre, who translated Hölderlin to counter Nazi propaganda. Pauline Giocanti then discusses the translation of contemporary Anglo-Saxon literature in North Africa, focusing on the journal Aguedal and the translator Madeleine Bosco, who translated many texts despite being a ‘circumstantial translator’. The talk concludes with the presentation of their research project, ‘Literary Translators at War’, which aims to give visibility to these translators through an Instagram account.

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Critical Evaluation

The presentation offers a compelling and well-documented overview of translation as a form of resistance during World War II. The speakers, both researchers from Nantes University, demonstrate a strong command of the subject, drawing on specific historical examples and archival materials. The argument is coherent: they show how translation was not merely a neutral act but a politically charged gesture that could challenge censorship and propaganda. The examples of Fontaine, Les Bannis, and Maxime Alexandre are particularly illustrative, and the discussion of Madeleine Bosco sheds light on the often-overlooked role of women and ‘circumstantial translators’. The talk is well-structured, moving from context to specific cases, and finally to their ongoing research project. However, as a conference presentation, it lacks the depth of a peer-reviewed article; some claims could benefit from more precise citations, and the audience is not given a detailed methodology for their research. The speakers also touch on the concept of ‘soft power’ and propaganda, which could be explored further. Overall, the content is scientifically sound and contributes to the understanding of literary history, though it is more of an expert opinion than a systematic study. The title accurately reflects the content, and the presentation is accessible without oversimplifying the complexity of the topic.

206 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on translation during wartime as an act of resistance.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The speakers are academic researchers from Nantes University, presenting historical examples and a research project. The content is well-structured and based on documented cases, though it is a conference presentation rather than a peer-reviewed publication.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • Nantes Université LinkedIn — Official LinkedIn page of Nantes Université, mentioned in the video description.
  • Nantes Université YouTube Channel — Official YouTube channel of Nantes Université, mentioned in the video description.

Concurring Sources

  • Nantes Université — Official website of Nantes Université, confirming the institutional affiliation of the speakers.

Contribution & Novelties

The talk provides a nuanced perspective on translation during WWII, highlighting specific cases and the role of translators as resistance actors. It contributes to the field of translation studies and literary history by bringing attention to lesser-known figures like Madeleine Bosco and the journal Aguedal.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Listes Otto — Wikipedia article on the censorship lists, providing context.
  • Éditions de Minuit — Wikipedia article on the clandestine publishing house, relevant to the anthology ‘Les Bannis’.
  • Maxime Alexandre — Wikipedia article on the poet and translator, offering biographical details.
  • Friedrich Hölderlin — Wikipedia article on the German poet, whose translation was a key example.
  • Fontaine (revue) — Wikipedia article on the literary journal, relevant to the resistance example.

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Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quantity and quality of information, with a moderate technical level, indicating a well-balanced presentation suitable for a general audience while maintaining scientific rigor.

Reliability 8/10