Tezpur University hosts seminar on technical terms in literary translation

Tezpur: Tezpur University’s Department of Assamese, in collaboration with the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT), launched a Two-Day National Seminar today on the “Role of Technical Terminology in Literary Translation,” bringing together leading academics and language experts to deliberate on the intersection of science, language, and literature. The seminar was inaugurated by Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh, Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University, who highlighted the importance of integrating technical terminology into regional literary translation. He emphasized that such efforts democratize access to knowledge and play a pivotal role in the wider dissemination of scientific thought in vernacular languages. Prof. Dhananjay Singh, Chairperson of CSTT and Member Secretary of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), delivered the keynote address. He spoke on the complexities of translation, noting the challenges in retaining meaning and context, especially when translating technical content into literary forms. He stressed the importance of using popular and accepted terms without compromising semantic accuracy. Also addressing the gathering, Prof. Chandan Kumar Sarma, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tezpur University, underlined translation's crucial role in bridging linguistic and cultural gaps. He called for a greater academic focus on translation studies as a means of enhancing both educational inclusivity and cultural preservation. Dr. Shahzad Ahmed Ansari, Assistant Director of CSTT, provided attendees with an overview of the Commission’s structure, goals, and its substantial contributions toward developing and standardising scientific and technical terminology in Indian languages. As part of the event, five new books published by Tezpur University’s Publication Centre were formally released. These publications, made possible through a grant from CSTT, reflect the department’s ongoing commitment to scholarly research and linguistic development. Dr. Juri Dutta, Head of the Department of Assamese and Programme Coordinator of the seminar, shared insights into the department’s ongoing academic initiatives, particularly those focused on promoting technical translation and terminology in Assamese literature. The seminar also saw active participation from regional academic leaders, including Prof. Satyakam Borthakur of Dibrugarh University’s Department of Assamese, and Dr. Dhurjjati Sarma, Assistant Professor in the Department of Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies at Gauhati University. With an engaged audience and thought-provoking discussions, the seminar marks a significant step forward in exploring how literary translation, enriched with accurate technical terminology, can empower regional languages and enhance the accessibility of scientific knowledge across India.