from rap, hip-hop, or the Holocaust to colonial America
My lines of research reflect a combination of my personal interests and life experiences that have shaped my academic trajectory. Since childhood, I have always had a passion for history, which led me to explore the history of translation and interpreting in colonial America. My early exposure to rap music and the hip-hop universe in the early 1990s sparked my interest in traduction et littérature des banlieues and hip-hop as an artistic and cultural expression: rap lyrics and translation. The film “La Haine” by Mathieu Kassovitz, with its language and aesthetics, as well as my contact with migrant communities during my childhood and adolescence, significantly influenced these research areas.
In addition, my first contact with a testimony of the Shoah through the work of Primo Levi, “If This Is a Man”, recommended by my general translation professor Xoán Manuel Garrido Vilariño, who would later become my thesis advisor, sparked my interest in the (para)translation of the Holocaust. This interest expanded to the (para)translation of fascism, exploring how these traumatic historical events have been interpreted and translated. In this line of research, I collaborate with the prestigious Brazilian historian Karl Schurster, with whom I share research projects focused on these themes.
The History of Translation and Interpreting in Colonial America explores how these practices developed during the colonial and conquest periods, and their impact on the societies of the time. As part of this line of research, I have delved into the role of interpreters during the early European expeditions to the American continent and other territories, such as the case of Gonzalo de Vigo, considered the first European to desert and live among indigenous peoples. As a result of this work, and following an interview published in Faro de Vigo in which I spoke about this historical figure, the then president of the Port Authority, after reading the article, decided to promote the creation of a sculpture in homage to Gonzalo de Vigo, thus encouraging public recognition of his historical significance.
Traduction et littérature des banlieues focuses on translation and the literature of urban outskirts, analyzing how marginalized voices are represented and translated; and hip-hop as an artistic and cultural expression: rap lyrics and translation explores the translation of rap lyrics and their cultural and artistic significance.
Another line of research I am currently engaged in is video game localization and everything surrounding the industry. This interest emerged with the launch of the ETIV proprietary degree, the ETIV-UVigo awards, and the synergies created with companies in the sector, which have allowed me to delve into the specific challenges of translation and cultural adaptation in the field of video games, as well as their growing impact as a global cultural industry.
the holocaust
The (para)translation of fascisms and the (para)translation of the Holocaust, two critical areas, examine how these dark periods of history have been translated and represented in different contexts and languages. All these research lines are tied to translation and interpretation studies in general and to the notion of paratranslation, particularly from the École de Vigo, an approach that considers not only the translated text but also the paratextual and cultural elements that surround and influence the translation process.
My personal experiences have not only deepened my understanding of these topics but have also guided my research toward areas that combine my passion for history, culture, and music, along with my commitment to historical memory and social justice.
