Hanna Blum

University of Graz, Department of Translation Studies, Post-Doc

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As a translation historian, my current research examines the rewriting of historiographical narratives through translation, particularly with regard to the GDR and the period of the Wende (period after the fall of the Berlin wall). By foregrounding translational practices, I interrogate established narrative patterns and move beyond national boundaries in order to illuminate historical processes from a transnational perspective.

To date, my work has focused on the translation cultures of the GDR, especially in the field of non-literary translation and interpreting. I intend to maintain this focus on such translational practices, as they offer particularly revealing insights into processes of knowledge transfer and the circulation of ideas.

In addition, I am interested in postcolonial and decolonial perspectives on translation and translation studies. In this context, I conceive of translation both as a potential instrument of decolonisation and as a possible means of (neo)colonial exercise of power.

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Translating Erich Prunč

Translation in Society, 2024

In this short introduction to our translation of Erich Prunč's Zur Konstruktion von Translationsk... more In this short introduction to our translation of Erich Prunč's Zur Konstruktion von Translationskulturen (2008a), we shed light on the scholar Erich Prunč, provide some background to the concept of "Translationskultur, " and explain some aspects of our translatorial decisions that readers will encounter in On the Construction of Translation Cultures.

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On the construction of translation cultures

Translation in Society, 2024

The paper by Erich Prunč introduces and develops the concept of translationskultur, a concept tha... more The paper by Erich Prunč introduces and develops the concept of translationskultur, a concept that captures cultural and social aspects of translation. Expanding beyond the narrow traditional views of equivalence and text oriented approaches that were dominant in translation studies when Prunč developed the concept, Prunč presents translation as a critical practice not only in mediating between languages but also as an essential act of transcultural communication. The concept of translationskultur is theorized as a self-referential, selfregulating subsystem of culture, characterized by a set of socially established norms and behaviors shared by individuals involved in translation. Prunč emphasizes the complexity of translation cultures, which arise from the delicate compromises among all stakeholders engaged in or affected by the translation process, including translators, authors, and recipients. Translation cultures are shaped by power dynamics within the field, and factors like societal status and resource allocation contribute to the establishment of hierarchies relevant for translation practices. By introducing this concept, Prunč moreover aims to encourage a conscientious reflection on the roles and responsibilities of translators and interpreters, their loyalties towards themselves, and advocates for more confident and self-critical agents acting towards ideals of a prototypical democratic translation culture. The paper concludes with the vision of translators and interpreters who are aware of their significant role in shaping discourses and who exercise their power with a sense of professional pride and ethical diligence.

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Fighting with Words: The Role of Discourses in the Literary Field during the Cultural Cold War in the GDR .

Austausch – Ausverhandlung – Ausbildung: Die Rolle von Berufsorganisationen für die Sprachmittlung in der DDR.

Chronotopos, 2025

In diesem Artikel wird ein Überblick über die beiden größten Berufsorganisationen für Translator*... more In diesem Artikel wird ein Überblick über die beiden größten Berufsorganisationen für Translator*innen, nämlich der Vereinigung der Sprachmittler (VdS) für Fachübersetzer*innen und Dolmetscherinnen auf der einen Seite sowie die Übersetzersektion im Deutschen Schriftstellerverband (DSV) auf der anderen Seite, hinsichtlich ihrer Geschichte, Entwicklung und Leistungen für die beteiligten Akteur*innen gegeben. Im Anschluss wird gesondert auf persönliche Erfahrungen von (literarischen) Übersetzer*innen und Dolmetscher*innen mit diesen Berufsverbänden eingegangen und davon berichtet, welche Bedeutung eine aktive Einbindung in die Verbände für sie hatte. Besondere Wichtigkeit haben hier die Schilderungen eines der beiden Autor*innen, Manfred Schmitz, der selbst jahrelang als Vorsitzender der VdS wirkte. Durch diese Darstellungen werden einerseits die Gemeinsamkeiten zwischen den Berufsorganisationen in den Fokus genommen, und andererseits wird ein Einblick in die beruflich-soziale Einbettung von (literarischen) Übersetzer*innen und Dolmetscher*innen gegeben, was wiederum einen wichtigen Beitrag zur retrospektiven Darstellung einer möglichen Translationskultur der DDR leistet.

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Translating the GDR: Narrative Authority and the Politics of Memory in Unified Germany.

Translation Matters, 2026

Challenging Binary Narratives: Rethinking the History of the GDR through the Lens of Alltagsgeschichte and Translation Practices

Encounters in Translation, 2025

The historiography of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), like many socialist and communist cou... more The historiography of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), like many socialist and communist countries, has been predominantly shaped by Western narratives, which emphasize censorship, repression, and state control. These accounts, often written by the victors of the Cold War, have reinforced the dichotomy between the “free” West and the “oppressive” East. The enduring prevalence of such dichotomies has long influenced the way history is told and still shapes our contemporary understanding of these regions and their histories while often marginalizing specific regions, perspectives, and people. However, such a one-sided view risks oversimplifying the complexity of life in the GDR and other socialist states and obscuring the agency of ordinary people who lived through these systems. By applying the concept of Alltagsgeschichte (everyday history), this paper understands historiography itself as a form of translation—a process shaped by power, interpretation, and omission and seeks to broaden our understanding of GDR history by highlighting the lived experiences of ordinary people. Using 27 oral history interviews with translators and interpreters in the GDR, this study amplifies the personal stories of those who navigated the ideological and professional constraints of the state, offering a more nuanced picture of life behind the Iron Curtain. These individuals, as part of a shared profession, provide an entry point into broader questions about how history is written and understood. Listening to their stories and experiences will serve as a starting point to reevaluate the way we conceptualize history, the East-West divide, and the role of translation in shaping societal narratives.

Specialized translators in the GDR

Translation and interpreting studies, Sep 24, 2020

This article aims to show that not only was translation in the cultural Cold War used to manipula... more This article aims to show that not only was translation in the cultural Cold War used to manipulate ideologies across the Iron Curtain, but it also played a decisive role in establishing socialist structures in satellite states, including those involved with the transfer of knowledge, thus giving a louder voice to translators as vital and yet underrepresented agents. Specifically, we examine the translators of the journal Sowjetwissenschaft (published in the GDR) to shed light on the identities of the translators and their role in the transfer of knowledge within the Socialist bloc. Individual scientific translators are investigated in greater detail to reveal their importance in establishing and preserving socialist structures and discourses during the cultural Cold War.

The Impact of Cultural Policy in the GDR on the Work of Translators

Translation Under Communism, 2022

Hanna Blum

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