In this episode we talk to linguist and academic Nicoletta Asciuto about her York university module 'Found in Translation' and four of her former students. Nicoletta talks about her move from monolingual upbringing to knowledge of ten languages, her decision to teach a module about translating to English from whatever home language. She discusses the often powerful emotional effect of translation for her students, four of whom agreed to join her on the podcast to talk about their work and personal experience - translation as, by turns, mindful, calming, focussing, escapist, deeply connecting to the past/heritage, and, as a group, a safe space that nurtured confidence and acceptance. We also speak more widely about the state of mind in professional translation. Where else but Brainland?

Participants:

Nicoletta Asciuto, Senior Lecturer in Modern Literature, University of York, UK. https://www.york.ac.uk/english/people/nicolettaasciuto/

Former students on Nicoletta's and their home nation:

Anna Thyregod Wilcks (Danish);

Enora Le Roux (French)

Arek Prokopczyk (Polish)

Ives Giulia Cappato (Italian)

with a readquote from Hayley Griffiths (Welsh)

Ken Barrett is an artist, writer and former neuropsychiatrist http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk

Nicoletta's 'Found in Translation' module: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/manage/programmes/module-catalogue/module/ENG00093H/2025-26?query=lost+in+translation&department=&creditLevel=&teachingPeriod=&isAvailableAsElective=false&isAvailableToVisitingStudents=false&electiveTheme=&offset=0&max=15

Musical extract: Prelude from Act 1 of Brainland, composed by Stephen Brown.

Brainland the opera website: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk

Portrait sketch by KB

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