Translation

There are numerous references on the PRC (Programme Resource Centre) to translation(s) and translating and the context varies from the subject concerned, which range from visual arts to sciences, with assessment being a common link. A number of references refer to language and literature courses (as can be seen above - as you would expect), and therefore the translation and literature is the focus for this page.

Rationale: given that DP students are expected to engage with texts that have been translated from another language, it might be helpful for students to be familiar with translated works by seeing, looking at and reading translated resources in the school library. Providing and promoting translated items in the school library can also be a contribution to International-mindedness and Resources reflecting international-mindedness through Language, languages and multilingualism  

What is a translation?

This is the interesting view from a publisher specialises in translated literature: 

And this view from two translators, in conversation:

Translated items in library collections

Whilst translation as a category doesn't really figure in documentation about library selection criteria, IFLA does address the issue of translated material in guidelines for multicultural materials (2009), where it is considered that “books are likely to form the main basis of a library‟s multilingual collection and these should be provided in the languages of the multicultural groups” catering for different age ranges and genres. “New acquisitions should, in the main, be recently published works, with a mixture of local (national, indigenous) authors and translations of internationally popular material. Where books are published in more than one script (such as Serbian), a representative collection in each script should be developed.” (International Federation of Library Associations, 2009)

Global fiction / World literature

Various sources use different terms to promote the concept of translated literature, such as global fiction or world literature. Indeed, the UNESCO's Index Translationum indicates that the most translated author world-wide is Agatha Christie, whilst Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince is one of the most translated books. 

Individual authors, contending for the International Booker Prize in 2024 were asked to recommend favourite works of global fiction that had been translated into English. These are the titles:

These are recommendations from the New York Public Library:

Bibliodiversity

When bibliodiversity exists, it can be seen in providing translations of works in languages that are not well represented in published literature, or in other ways where the writing, author, genre or form of literature is marginalised in a given publishing environment (such as a country or dominant language). 

Geopolitical issues

National organisations probably do this in a very soft way, but an example where geopolitical aspects of literature, including translation, can be seen in relation to Ukraine. 

“International initiatives building the infrastructure needed for Ukrainian literature to circulate globally are underway. The government entity, the Ukrainian Book Institute (UBI) has five objectives that seek to: shape state policy in the book publishing sector; promote book reading in Ukraine; support the book industry; provide incentives for translations; and popularise Ukrainian literature abroad.” (Warner-Trelour, 2026)

Literature in translation and AI

Access - online - to books out of copyright is easy so there may be many translated versions of ‘classic’ books available and used for translating, not least assisted or created through AI tools but can invariably be of poor quality. This practical advice about from a published translator and university lecturer in French and translation (Bradford, 2026) about working out whether the translated book being offered for sale has been produced by AI means or a more quality work from a human translator:  

• The author will be deceased, but now well-known and the work will be in the public domain. Either the title will be well-known - a ‘classic’ - or the author will be famous.
• Look at the cover. Does the design look amateur or of poor quality. This might be because the cover has been created by AI means.
• Is a publisher mentioned? If the book has been self-published, there will be little/no assistance from a commercial publisher, e.g. a professional editor.
• Is information about the translator available on the internet? If not, the translator, is a “ghost”, so there is no information (such as biographical, information about other publications by the translator or a photo) to indicate the translator exists or has credibility as a translator.
• Have a number of titles by this author been published recently, i.e. since AI use has become more widespread?
• What languages have the books been translated into? Bradford says the most commonly AI-translated languages are French, Russian, German and medieval Italian.
• Look at any sample provided - as Bradford says “one dead giveaway is the absence of indented paragraphs – conventional formatting and presentation are jettisoned.” Also, get a feel of the text - does it read in a modern way or does it feel stilted and use archaic language, and so on. 

(Bradford, 2026)

Which books?

Prescribed reading list

The IB prescribed reading list (PRL), which we look at on the Studies in language and literature page, could be a useful starting point for looking at which books to make available to DP students in the school library. 

The PRL is a large list of authors from which schools can select works to be studied. 

The IB's Prescribed Reading List can be accessed at: https://ibpublishing.ibo.org/prl/?lang=en 

In this demonstration search for literature of a particular jurisdiction or country, the result was presented in an alphabetical arrangement of language. There were six pages of results and most were for the national language of the country concerned. The literary form of an author is also identified. (Whilst the list won't necessarily identify translations, it can provide librarians with specific authors or titles to see whether translations exist.)

Here is how one school library has curated metadata from the PRL: 

Value and importance of translated literature

Here are views which identify the value of translated literature and the act of identifying translations to help make culture more visible, so international-mindedness and culture can be keywords as:

• “In an increasingly uncertain world and with so many divisions in our global society, literary translation is one way in which different countries and peoples can unite. The pleasure that can be shared through reading good novels is one that spans nationalities, borders, religions, genders and much more. Shared cultural experiences of this nature serve to bring together people who have never met by creating a bond between them.” (Tirosh, 2024)
• “Making translations visible is an act of cultural infrastructure. It determines which literatures count as existing, which readers can find what they need, and which languages register in the global record. In a world that regularly celebrates bibliodiversity, the least we can do is build the tools to measure it. … The question is not whether translations exist. They do. The question is whether anyone can find them.” (Tsel, 2026)