Metaglossia has been carefully and purposely designed as an eye-opening and thought-provoking one-stop shop in matters of translational communication, i.e. translation/interpreting-centred interpersonal and intercultural communication . Most importantly, it is seen as an empowerment and networking tool at the service of professional practice as well as learning, teaching, research and innovation in translation, interpreting, terminology, lexicography and intercultural communication across Africa… and far beyond. Metaglossia is committed to the idea that all these areas are closely interrelated, especially so within the African context characterised fundamentally by a glaring number of known languages and cultures sharing the same communication spaces daily.
The word metaglossia was coined in 2010 (cf. https://www.blogger.com/profile/11481867605244394299; http://metaglossia.wordpress.com/) from a number of traceable sources: Greek meta, specifically in the sense of beyond or behind; early Latin glossa, i.e. language, dialect or idiom; and the prefix glos- as widely attested in the English words gloss, glossary, and most especially diglossia, heteroglossia, monoglossia, polyglossia, etc. or the French glose, glossaire, and more precisely diglossie, hétéroglossie, monoglossie, polyglossie, etc.. In this light, metaglossia literally means beyond/behind the Word, beyond/behind languages; more specifically, metaglossia is an ubuntu-rooted conception of interpersonal and intercultural communication space, notably the ideal translation or interpreting setting/world, whereby mutual understanding between the addresser and the addressee is ever made possible over and beyond the words or languages that have been chosen by each interacting party at any one time.
Through its Newslinks portal, Metaglossia provides updates and, sometimes, mind-tickling information to which readers are free to react by sending in comments and rejoinders. English is the main interface language; however, posts and articles are currently welcome in other official languages of Africa, including Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Kiswahili. And, naturally, reflections on translation, interpreting, lexicography, terminology and intercultural communication involving any of the other 2000 or so languages of Africa remain a top priority.
Above all, Metaglossia and its Newslinks pages pay particular attention to the needs of students and budding practitioners as well as those of teachers, researchers and experienced professionals, based on a regular observation of current developments and an assessment of frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Metaglossia and Metaglossia Newslinks specifically aim to:
- promote an exchange of relevant views, experience and information;
- advise on training and research opportunities;
- advise student translators, interpreters, terminologists and lexicographers on available opportunities and avenues in regard to documentation, resource persons and institutions, etc. and thus accompany them throughout training;
- advise on job opportunities and new vacancies;
- advise researchers and practitioners on events and developments in the field;
- raise awareness of and give visibility to models which may be worth emulating;
- foster highly professional and properly informed practice.
Besides, Metaglossia is committed to encouraging high quality publications, notably through free-access, peer-reviewed journals, namely:
- Proverbial – A journal on proverbs and proverb translation in/from endogenous African languages;
- Tafsiri – the African journal of translation and interpreting;
- Termina & Lexica – A Journal on Terminology and Lexicography in Africa.