Language, Translation, and the Irish Theatre Diaspora in Quebec

Abstract: This article argues for the inclusion of Québécois translations of Irish plays as part of the Irish theatrical diaspora. The presence of an Irish diaspora in North America was mainly the result of massive waves of immigration, in large part due to the Great Famine, peaking during the mid-nineteenth century before gradually abating. This diaspora was integrated into Quebec society, undoubtedly facilitated by similar political, religious, and even linguistic elements. Interest in Irish culture, especially in its theatrical output, remains high, with many theatre companies, for example Théâtre La Licorne in Montreal, in the province commissioning seasons based on Celtic Tiger-era dramas, translated by Québécois playwrights. In tracing the reason for this interest, despite diminished recent immigration, this article provides the basis for continued research into the performative force of proactive translations across varying diasporic traditions.

摘要：本文主张将爱尔兰戏剧的魁北克语译本纳入爱尔兰戏剧散居社群（Irish theatrical diaspora）的研究范畴。爱尔兰族群在北美的散居格局，主要源于多轮大规模移民潮，其中爱尔兰大饥荒（Great Famine）是核心驱动因素之一，该移民浪潮于19世纪中期达到峰值，随后逐渐趋于平缓。该散居群体已顺利融入魁北克社会，相似的政治生态、宗教信仰乃至语言环境，无疑为其融入进程提供了关键助力。当前社会对爱尔兰文化，尤其是其戏剧作品的关注热度依旧居高不下：省内多家剧院（例如蒙特利尔的独角兽剧院（Théâtre La Licorne））便委托推出了以"凯尔特之虎"时期戏剧为核心的演出季，相关剧目均由魁北克剧作家译制。尽管近年爱尔兰移民规模已大幅缩减，但本文仍追溯了这一持续高涨的文化热情的成因，并为后续针对不同散居传统下主动式翻译（proactive translations）的展演效能（performative force）的研究奠定了理论基础。