PEN Afrikaans Translation Fund extends funding consideration to twice a year

In South Africa, the PEN Afrikaans Translation Fund will expand consideration for translation grants to twice in a calendar year, reports Publishing Perspectives.

Established in June 2017, the PEN Afrikaans Translation Fund supports international publishers with grants to translate Afrikaans works into other languages.

The fund aims to promote ‘noteworthy’ Afrikaans works internationally and was set up to address the ‘extremely challenging’ nature of selling translation rights for Afrikaans titles.

In 2016, PEN Afrikaans board member and author Bettina Wyngaard said the language ‘is becoming increasingly politicised because of its historical connection to the apartheid government’.

‘This is creating mounting pressure on Afrikaans mother-tongue speakers to receive an education in English. It is our hope that, by showing that Afrikaans is not only a language spoken by a white minority, the stigma surrounding the use of the language will be lessened,’ said Wyngaard.

The first deadline for applications this year is 15 May, with the second deadline falling on 15 November.

To find out more, see the website.

Category: International news