Silvina Katz

From Translator to Scholar: Translating Sensory Atmospheres in Silvina Ocampo’s Short Stories

The elusive nature of literary atmospheres presents a significant challenge in both their identification within texts and their recreation through translation. My thesis explores the sensory and lexical elements that contribute to the creation of such atmospheres, focusing on selected short stories by Argentinian author Silvina Ocampo and their English translations. The findings demonstrate that specific textual features crucial to the original atmospheres were successfully identified and replicated in the translations. This has led to the development of a new framework for recognising sensory cues that underpin emerging literary atmospheres, which is invaluable for translators and literary practitioners. Moreover, this framework not only enhances the practice and teaching of literary translation but also offers a robust analytical tool that can be adapted to other texts. Anticipating future advancements in digital humanities, this framework promises further refinement and broader applicability, bridging the gap between traditional literary analysis and modern technological approaches. This transition from translator to academic acknowledges the creativity inherent in translators as they seek innovative solutions in their work.

Silvina Katz is a translator, interpreter, and academic who has recently completed a PhD in Translation Studies from the Open University (UK). Her thesis, titled “A Sensory Study for the Translation of Atmosphere in Silvina Ocampo’s Short Stories”, explores the relationship between translation, sensory linguistics, and literary atmosphere. Her innovative approach combines close reading with computer-assisted methodologies to analyse how literary atmospheres are conveyed across languages. Silvina’s research interests include Argentinian short stories, literary atmospheres, and the role of sensory perception in translation. Email: silvinakatz@hotmail.com.