Retranslating English Art-Related Terminology for Inclusive Purposes

Retranslation is a complex process influenced by diverse historical, cultural, and ideological factors, which was initially widely embraced in the literary field. First considered just an epiphenomenon of Translation Studies, in recent decades, retranslation has gained attention in non-literary and scientific fields (Gürçağlar 2009), with the 21st century being defined as the “Age of Retranslation” (Collombat 2004). Retranslation is the process of translating a work that has previously been translated into the same language to provide a new interpretation (or “reorientation”) for a new audience with a different background or different communication needs. Drawing from a project on the role of museum panels for younger and older adults currently displayed at the Brera Art Gallery in Milan, this talk will illustrate the main techniques used to retranslate English museum exhibit labels originally produced in Italian into English easy-to-understand (E2U) texts with enhanced comprehensibility. Selected examples of E2U retranslations of exhibit labels will be illustrated and discussed with a focus on specialised art-related terminology and its simplification. The role of retranslation as a powerful tool for revising museum texts and improving their accessibility will be discussed as a crucial means to ensure an engaging museum experience for all.