The Oxford Georgian Translation Project
The small nation of Georgia has a long established tradition of writing in its own scripts which has been traced back to the 5th century AD. Of the vast quantity of literature generated over the many centuries of Georgian history, only a small fraction is today available to read in the English language. Translating classic and contemporary works of Georgian literature into English has become an important cultural initiative in the light of the Georgians’ experience as a people who have survived contact and exchange with neighbouring empires.
In recent years, Oxford University has drawn together many strands of Georgian studies. The University of Oxford’s collection of Georgian manuscripts and historical documents in the Bodleian Library attracts researchers from around the world. The University runs many seminars and workshops on Georgia and established the annual Georgia Oxford Forum with speakers including Georgian politicians, diplomats and academics. Georgian language courses have been offered to undergraduates and graduates across the university since 1996. The Oxford Georgian Translation Project, which was launched with the publication of its first book, Unlocking the Door, in 2017, seeks to increase the number of English translations of Georgian literature through two primary activities: - creating translations of Georgian literature - training a new generation of translators in the Georgian language The Oxford Georgian Translation Project builds upon the Georgian language teaching carried out by Lia Chokoshvili at the University of Oxford by training a cadre of new young translators who can continue the work first started at the beginning of the 20th century by the Oxford alumnus, Oliver Wardrop, and his sister Marjory, two translators of great works of Georgian literature.
Opportunity for support Methods of Payment:
Cheque: Please send a cheque payable to ‘University of Oxford Development Trust Fund’ to the address below.
If you are a USA donor, please make check payable to Americans for Oxford, Inc, and send to the USA address below.
Bank to bank transfer: Please get in touch with Lia Chokoshvili for the bank account details at: lia.chokoshvili@ ames.ox.ac.uk
Online Gift: For those living in the UK, please go to this online link: www.development.ox.ac.uk/interdisciplinaryarea-studies
For those living in the USA, please go to: www.oxfordna.org/make-a-donation So that the project receives your donation, please select academic departments, social sciences, and then choose Oxford School of Global and Area Studies.
The Oxford Georgian Translation Project seeks support from those who value Georgian literature and would like to help bring the literature and language of Georgia to a wider audience. Depending on the funds raised, Lia Chokoshvili will develop a new Georgian grammar with audio supporting materials, based on the language course taught at the University.
The Oxford Georgian Translation Project,
Social Sciences Division,
Wellington Square,
Oxford OX1 2JD,
United Kingdom
Email: lia.chokoshvili@ames.ox.ac.uk
The Oxford Georgian Translation Project c/o Mr. Neil Simpkins,
Chairman Americans for Oxford,
Inc. 500 Fifth Avenue,
32nd Floor New York,
NY 10110, USA
The University of Oxford Development Trust is the registered charity of Oxford University in the UK. Americans for Oxford, Inc is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
