Organiser: Maurice Yip – University of Lausanne (Primary) / Osaka Metropolitan University (Visiting)

This proposed session invites contributions that explore the meanings of geographical concepts in different languages and their implications, the role of language translation in the production and circulation of geographical knowledge, and more generally the relationships between language and geographical scholarship. Focusing primarily on the region of East Asia, this session aims to critically reflect on the practice of translation: rather than a one-way process, how can translation be seen as multi-way and relational practices that contribute to multiplying the possibilities of knowledge mobility between territories of knowledge and building dialogues with geographers around the world?

In this context, this session invites contributions on the following potential topics:

- Geographical concepts and the ‘translational turn’: Dialogues on translingual meanings of territory and other geographical concepts

- Language and geographical scholarship in East Asia: The role of language and translation in the history, present, and future of geography in East Asia, and the use of different languages in geography pedagogy and research in East Asia

- Translating from East Asia: The possibilities of theorisation in geography from East Asia

- Geographers as translators: The motivations and experiences of researchers and students as translators of geographical writings, and the opportunities and challenges of AI translation tools in geographical practice

If you are interested, please first send a simple message to the session organiser (Maurice.Yip@unil.ch) to indicate your interest at your earliest convenience. Then, please submit a short abstract in early November, so that the organiser can pass on the session details to the conference secretariat by 8 November. Looking forward to your contributions!