15^th Jan 2004

Media Translation Practice Must Keep Pace With Global Technology

A major international conference on audiovisual translation, In so Many Words, involving high-profile speakers from across the world will take place on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 February.

Organised by Roehampton University of Surrey and University of Surrey, Guildford, it will explore the many questions that are raised by rapidly expansion of audiovisual translation. The challenges of globalisation, the impact of the DVD, the exponential growth in television channels, and the exchange and distribution of film and television programmes are areas that will be discussed. Special emphasis will be given to the concept of accessibility to information, covering the transfer of language for audiences such as the blind and deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

Three hundred delegates are expected to attend, drawn from film and television broadcasting, production and distribution companies, and educational institutions.
Principal organiser, Dr Jorge Díaz-Cintas from the Hispanic Research Centre at Roehampton commented: "This will be the first ever conference on this subject to take place in the UK. In light of the rapid expansion of audiovisual translation globally, this conference will be a unique opportunity to bring together professionals, scholars and practitioners to explore media translation in theory and practice, and to ascertain the language needs of film distributors and broadcasters."

Topics will include quality assurance in audiovisual translation; the impact of DVD and new technologies; trends in audiovisual translation training; broadcasting for minority audiences and accessibility to information, and co-operation between industry and the education sector.

The conference, In So Many Words, will take place on 6-7 February 2004 at Senate House, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1 7HU. Full programme and booking forms available at: www.surrey.ac.uk/LIS/CTS/insomanywords.htm

For further information:

Dr Jorge Díaz-Cintas
Hispanic Research Centre
Roehampton University of Surrey
T: 020 8392 3635
E: j.diaz-cintas@roehampton.ac.uk

Notes to Editors:

About Roehampton
Roehampton has been teaching students for over a century and a half and combines the feel of a traditional university while offering the student centered support vital in higher education today. The University is located on two campuses in southwest London. It has around 8000 students who study a range of first degrees, postgraduate degrees, professional development and short courses. For more information about Roehampton go to www.roehampton.ac.uk

Hispanic Research Centre
Roehampton's Hispanic Research Centre has two areas of research that feature prominently: Translation Studies and Hispanic Cultural Studies, with a strong Postcolonial and Film Studies profile. The main role of the Centre is to facilitate research carried out by staff and students, providing them with an overall framework of interdisciplinary and internationally collaborative research.
www.roehampton.ac.uk/eml/hispanic/