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You are cordially invited to the Faculty’s Literature Seminar "Beyond Cold War Antinomies: Re-thinking Translation and Censorship in the 21st Century", which will be held in English, and will take place on Tuesday, 7 May, at 5 pm in Kazimieras Būga Auditorium. 

This time our speaker will be the professor Brian James Baer from Kent State University, USA. 

The abstract of the presentation:

This talk begins with a theoretical discussion of translation and censorship as double-voiced texts, followed by a description of the two main approaches to conceptualizing censorship. Then a historical overview of censorship practices is offered, with a special focus on sexually explicit writings in translation. Between the extremes of total banning and total acceptance lie a range of censorial practices applied to translations, such as non-translation or the use of a third language, as well as euphemism, innuendo, and annotation. The textual traces left by such practices bring attention to translation and generate strategies for evading censorship restrictions. Censorship can also take place at an extra-textual level through paratextual material meant to foreclose certain interpretations of a text and promote others. Paradoxically, those paratexts may allow the texts themselves to remain unaltered, providing the possibility of alternative readings. In addition, the effort required to evade censorship to create alternate translations and interpretations results in the creation of minority reading communities. 

Justinas Noreika, Mindaugas Kvietkauskas, Eglė Danielienė, Romualdas Danielius, Artūras Vasiliauskas. Photographer: Katažyna Polubinska.

A bronze bas-relief, cast from a plaster medal created in 1979 by sculptor Vytautas Mačiuika (1929-1999), was unveiled at the Faculty of Philology of Vilnius University (VU), in the auditorium named after Prof. Jonas Kazlauskas (1930-1970). During the event, Eglė Danielienė, the daughter of the famous linguist, and her husband Romualdas Danielius, announced the establishment of a sub-fund in the amount of EUR 140 thousand in the name of Prof. J. Kazlauskas. The return of the sub-fund will be used to establish named scholarships, prizes, and finance other initiatives at the VU Philology Faculty.

Professor J. Kazlauskas, habilitated doctor of sciences – one of the most prominent specialists in 20th century Baltic linguistics – was the actual leader of post-war Baltic studies. From 1949 to 1954, Prof. Kazlauskas studied Lithuanian language and literature at Vilnius University, and from 1958 to 1970 he worked as a lecturer at the University, and from 1962 as an associate professor. In 1968, he defended his Habilitated Doctor of Philology degree. In 1968-1970, Prof. Kazlauskas was the Dean of the Faculty of History and Philology at Vilnius University, and since 1969 – Professor.

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"The dean, Professor Jonas Kazlauskas, a great talent in Baltic studies, was interrupted by the Soviet regime on his way to world recognition. It is wonderful that today his memory is not only perpetuated, but also becomes a strong support for today's young philological talents on their way to the top of their fields. The support of the patrons Eglė and Romualdas Danielius in the name of J. Kazlauskas is a gift of a special value to the Faculty and to the future of Lithuanian philology," says Prof. Mindaugas Kvietkauskas, Dean of the VU Philology Faculty.

In 1965, the journal of Baltic linguistics "Baltistica" was founded thanks to the efforts of Prof. J. Kazlauskas, which soon gained international recognition (he was the editor-in-chief from 1965-1970). In 1964 and 1970, on his initiative, international conferences of Baltic studies were held in Vilnius, which later became traditional, and since 1980 have been held alternately in Vilnius and Riga. In 1970, Prof. Kazlauskas was invited to the University of Pennsylvania in the USA to teach a course in Baltic linguistics.

Unfortunately, the professor disappeared on 8 October 1970. His body was found in the Neris River on 17 November. His death is still shrouded in mystery - all the documents have disappeared from the KGB archives. The professor was buried in the Saulės Cemetery in Vilnius on the 20th of January, 1970. The Prof. Kazlauskas

Auditorium at the VU Faculty of Philology was also renovated in 2020-2021 with the help of patrons Eglė and Romualdas Danielius

More pictures from the event >>

On Friday, 26th April, we kindly invite you to the annual Scandinavian Students' Conference!

In four sections - Literature, Linguistics and Culture, plus Posters section, in two locations - 92 and 314  (AB). Starting at 9.00 at 92 with Taina Mylläri’s presentation (based on her PhD project), splitting into sections from 9.30, with the possibility to mingle with beloved colleagues and students in the hall by 314 during the coffee break at 10.45-11.15. Continuing together in 92 for the Culture section and then the Posters section the same place (from 13.30), where one will move freely between the posters and be able to chat with the students about their projects in a more informal way. 

Find the programme attached >

You are cordially invited to the Faculty’s Literature Seminar, which will be held in English, and will take place on Tuesday, 23April, at 5 pm in Kazimieras Būga Auditorium.

This time our speaker will be the post-doctoral research fellow at the Faculty of History at Vilnius University Dr Sergii Gurbych. The topic of his presentation: Cultural Identity of Authors and Characters in Migrant Literature.

The abstract of the presentation

What happens when a migrant author shares the experiences of a migrant character with a reader from another culture? Inevitably, some concepts in the story cannot be directly translated into another language without losing context. Should the context be explained in detail? Should the author seek a concept as close as possible in the reader’s culture? Or, on the contrary, should the reader be left to interpret everything independently to achieve a detachment effect? Each writer resolves these questions themselves. In his presentation, Sergii Gurbych, author of Mother Tongue, Other Tongue: Soviet-born Jewish Writers in Their New Language Environment, discusses how these issues were addressed in the novels by Katja Petrowskaja, Olga Grjaznowa, and Alina Bronski, three contemporary authors who immigrated to Germany from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Russia.

Biographical note

Dr. Sergii Gurbych is currently engaged in postdoctoral research at the Faculty of History, Vilnius University. He earned his PhD from the Jewish Studies Department at Heidelberg University, focusing on modern Israeli literature. His latest book, Mother Tongue, Other Tongue: Soviet-born Jewish Writers in Their New Language Environment, explores cultural and national identity through the novels of migrant authors who adopted the language of their new countries. Dr. Gurbych’s current research intersects Archival studies, Identity studies, and Digital Humanities, particularly examining the personal identity of Lithuanian Jewish community members during the interwar period

Registration for the traditional event “Student for a Day” at Vilnius University (VU) has begun. This year, VU offers real experiences and inspiring discoveries for high school students and those interested in studying at VU, inviting them to get to know the prominent study programmes.

“Student for a Day” is perfect for those who are curious about what it would be like to study at VU, both for a degree or exchange studies. Participants can choose from many different classes in different fields and disciplines, learn about VU first-hand, broaden their knowledge and can easier decide what to study.

The event participants, together with the current VU students, will have an opportunity to visit lectures in 15 faculties, including Kaunas and Šiauliai. The events will take place both in person and remotely, furthermore, lectures will be organised for international students in English.

The participant who becomes a student for one day will be able not only to get to know VU and its faculties but also to discover new disciplines, enrich their knowledge, and find answers to their questions regarding their choice of studies.

This year, VU ambassadors invite students from other countries to a special remote event in English. In the virtual panel discussion, VU ambassadors from various faculties will share their experiences at VU. They will present university life from application and admission to final exams.

“Student for a Day” events will take place from April 22nd to 26th. More information and registration can be found here.

Dr. Johanna Laakso, Professor of Finno-Ugric Studies at the University of Vienna, Austria, visited the Centre for Scandinavian studies through the ERASMUS exchange at the end of February. Professor J. Laakso conducted lectures and seminars on several topics, including the history of Finno-Ugric studies and the relationships between Swedish and Finnish. At the end of her visit, she gave an open lecture with the title “Demistifying the Finno-Ugric languages”. All of the events turned out to be a success: they were followed by large audiences, and they ended up in lively discussions.

We posed Professor J. Laakso a few questions concerning her impressions of Vilnius University (VU) and visions about future contacts between her VU and her home university.

This was your first visit to VU, more precisely the Centre for Scandinavian Studies in the Institute of Languages and Cultures of the Baltic. What were your first impressions about our university and its campus?

The historical buildings are impressive, and at the same time, the campus is full of life. It was wonderful to see how beautifully the historical legacy of the university mixes with the work of vibrant communities of today’s students and scholars. The Centre for Scandinavian Studies reminded me of the first years of my academic career in Helsinki and the small but cosy attic rooms in which the Finno-Ugric department worked. I also felt the same friendly atmosphere of loving commitment which is typical of “small” disciplines worldwide.

How would you define the role of your own fields of expertise in today's world?

Finno-Ugric studies in the traditional sense include historical-comparative approaches to the whole language family and research into the less well-known Finno-Ugric minority languages. Outside Finland, Estonia, and Hungary, these approaches are often overshadowed by practical philological interests in the three Finno-Ugric state languages.

As a Finno-Ugricist, I see my task as maintaining knowledge of the historical background and relatedness of our languages, the history of language diversity and language contacts in Europe and, last but not least the dire state of minority languages and their speakers’ linguistic human rights. Understanding how languages function, interact and change is fundamental importance to understanding of humanity and its culture.

Do you see possibilities for co-operation between the Centre for Scandinavian Studies and your own unit in the University of Vienna in the future?

Definitely, and I would be happy to promote further co-operations. Our department in Vienna is institutionally connected to the Scandinavian Studies (we belong administratively to the same institute), so that bureaucratic obstacles would be minimal. My Viennese colleagues in Scandinavian Studies already have regular connections to Lithuania, and they also have a specific focus on the culture and history of the Baltic Sea region, which is very interesting from the point of view of our teaching of Estonian and Finnish philology.

In addition to my own linguistic interests, I would welcome and gladly support cooperation with my colleagues on issues of minority literatures and multilingualism in literature, a topic on which we are planning to build up a research network. Literary translation is also a topic in which there is a keen interest among our students.

Would you like to mention some highlights of your visit to VU and in the city itself?

First of all, this was an incredibly well-planned and organised ERASMUS visit. My most cordial thanks to Asta Laugalienė, Satu Grünthal and Taina Mylläri for carefully integrating my teaching into their programme, for creating opportunities to meet colleagues and students, and for numerous fruitful and interesting discussions.

This was my first visit ever to Vilnius, and I am still processing a vast amount of experiences and new information about the history of the city. In comparison with Estonia, which I know much better, Lithuania stands clearly closer to the culture of Central Europe, and much of the architecture and historical monuments – not least the numerous Catholic churches – reminded me of my current home city of Vienna. Among many other things, Vilnius is a historical connecting link between my two central research interests, the Finnic and the Hungarian-speaking area. I kept thinking of Catherine Jagiellon, who married the then Duke of Finland in Vilnius in 1562 and then moved to Turku to become the hostess of the closest thing to a renaissance court we ever had in Finland, and of her brother-in-law Stephen (István) Báthory, the king whose realm included Hungarian speakers as well as Estonians and Livonians.

As for further highlights of my visit, let me mention two. First, I saw the opera “Lamb of God”, which brought back so many memories from my student years in the 1980s and my first encounters with the cultures of the Baltic countries struggling under Soviet censorship. And second, scratching the ear of the Užupis Cat. I hope I have become a braver person – and I hope to come back someday, to gather even more courage.

We kindly invite you to guest lectures by Annely Tank on April 11^th at the Faculty of Philology.

Guest lecturer Annely Tank is an adult educator (MA) by profession. She mixes education, economy, culture and innovation for impact-making projects. She is currently working as Head of Recruitment at the City of Tallinn, focusing on transition to Estonian-language education, by building up a future-facing recruitment and talent retention support for all (future) teachers in Tallinn. She spends a lot of time outdoors, hiking, writing and photographing. 

The lectures will take place on 11 April at 15.00-20.30 in auditorium 314AB as follows:

15.00-16.30

Estonian economy on a global scale: companies and other organisations are providing several game changing services and products, but what are they about? Why do we need more people who speak more languages? Why should you speak Estonian? How does the ongoing Estonian-language transition change the process? Practical examples. 

17.00-18.30

Estonian labour market and education: present and future tense. What to study? Why should you combine maths and arts? We also take a closer look at our awesome expats' journeys. 

19.00-20.30

E-Estonia: what is it about? How to design a great e-service and what happens when it needs to be updated? Disclaimer: not your regular upgrading process. How does one find a fine balance between e-services and people's need for 1:1 communication? What about e-education?