Translation and Multilingualism in Mongol and Post-Mongol Eurasia

<p>The conquests of Chinggis Khan in the thirteenth century marked the beginning of the establishment of the Mongol Empire in Eurasia. As rulers, the Mongols became known for their adaptability and openness to the customs and practices of most of the people they governed, and this played a pivotal role in shaping the linguistic and cultural landscapes of Eurasia. The empire’s administration and communication systems required the translation of texts, the use of multiple languages, and the navigation of varied traditions and knowledge systems, which led to the development and institutionalisation of translation practices that were not only practical but also transformative, shaping the very fabric of Eurasian societies during and after the Mongol period. These linguistic and cultural dynamics did not disappear with the decline of the Mongol Empire but rather continued to flourish and evolve in successor states such as the Ottoman Empire, Timurid Central Asia, and Mughal India, as well as other regions influenced by the Mongols, including China and Korea.</p><p> This workshop investigates the intricacies of translation and multilingualism in Mongol and post-Mongol Eurasia from the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries, analysing how texts, concepts, and knowledge traversed linguistic and cultural divides, as well as identifying the mechanisms that enabled effective communication and comprehension within a multilingual sphere. Viewing translation as an embodiment of knowledge transmission, it delves deeper into the subject of translation as a notion, procedure, and outcome, debating who transferred knowledge, when, and in what settings. Our investigation focuses on identifying what texts were translated and the contexts in which the translations occurred. We are also particularly interested in the functions performed by various languages when composing texts and their reciprocal influence within Eurasia’s culturally diverse setting. </p><p> Organising Committee <br /> Jun.-Prof. Dr. Philip Bockholt (TRANSLAPT/University of Münster) <br />Dr. Bruno De Nicola (Austrian Academy of Sciences)

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