Translating the regime. Portuguese Propaganda in English during Salazar’s dictatorship Isabel Chumbo Polytechnic Institute Bragança - Portugal Tarragona, 20 October 2006

Outline Background Background Objectives Objectives Hypotheses Hypotheses Why translate Why translate Data Data Methodology Methodology Examples Examples Possible conclusions Possible conclusions

Background Censorship Censorship a wide variety of mechanisms the state under Oliveira Salazar used to repress the press, publishers, authors and organizers of public events, among other entities.

Oliveira Salazar ( ) Oliveira Salazar ( ) Marcelo Caetano ( ) Marcelo Caetano ( ) Propaganda Office (Secretariado da Propaganda Nacional – SPN) Propaganda Office (Secretariado da Propaganda Nacional – SPN)

Objective of the research Macro-level: To investigate the importance Salazar’s regime attributed to translations, mainly from Portuguese into English in the 1930s and 1940s. Macro-level: To investigate the importance Salazar’s regime attributed to translations, mainly from Portuguese into English in the 1930s and 1940s. Micro-level: To analyze a set of Salazar’s speeches in order to see whether self-censorship is applied in the translations. Micro-level: To analyze a set of Salazar’s speeches in order to see whether self-censorship is applied in the translations.

Self-censorship in translation happens when the translator is influenced by the external and internal constraints of working under pressure. Self-censorship in translation happens when the translator is influenced by the external and internal constraints of working under pressure. This behavior can be conscious or unconscious.

Hypotheses a) Translators working for the SPN practice self- censorship; a) Translators working for the SPN practice self- censorship; b) Images on Portugal in the translations are more positive than the ones in the Source Text. b) Images on Portugal in the translations are more positive than the ones in the Source Text.

Why translate? Translation as a way of promoting a positive image of the country and the leader International Exhibitions, tourism Ideology External propaganda was important due to political attitudes (colonies, etc)

Data Doctrine and Action, a compilation of Salazar’s main speeches (23), mainly on national and international politics Doctrine and Action, a compilation of Salazar’s main speeches (23), mainly on national and international politics The original texts in Discursos The original texts in Discursos The original translations (manuscript) The original translations (manuscript) Paratexts (letters, documents, Paratexts (letters, documents, introductions to the speeches) introductions to the speeches)

Methodology Hypothesis 1 – text comparison in search for omissions and additions self-censorship Hypothesis 1 – text comparison in search for omissions and additions self-censorship Hypothesis 2 – categorization of the ideological shifts in the translation virtual image of Portugal abroad Hypothesis 2 – categorization of the ideological shifts in the translation virtual image of Portugal abroad

Examples PortugueseTranslationProcedure “ “Vamos abstrair de serviços idênticos noutros países, dos exaltados nacionalismos que os dominam, dos teatrais efeitos a tirar no tablado internacional. Tratemos do nosso caso…” Omission of criticism “… aquele outro soube duma criança que foi encontrada morta” “… another may find a child weeping by the wayside” Omission of reality Euphemism “… é preciso que alguém tenha a preocupação constante de contrapor ao facto singular a universalidade dos factos” “But it is necessary for someone to present things to us in their true perspective”Addition Speech: “Propaganda Nacional”/ “National Propaganda”

Possible conclusions the role of translations was relevant in the materialization of the regime’s propaganda outside Portugal the role of translations was relevant in the materialization of the regime’s propaganda outside Portugal translators used omissions or additions as a result of self-censorship (conscious?) translators used omissions or additions as a result of self-censorship (conscious?)