ellipse (est. 1969), the first and best-known literary magazine of its kind, is seeking French and English translations of poetry which reflect the concept of translation as authorship. For its 92 issue, ellipse welcomes translations of poetry from any source into English or French, which are accompanied by, or incorporate commentary in ways that complement, expand, or contextualize the translations proper. The commentary can focus or be a reflection on the translation process, or the lattice of ideas that emanate from the translator’s mind when involved in the process. Experimenting beyond the traditional representation of translation is encouraged. Submissions can adhere, but need not be limited to the following formats:

  • Essayistic meditation embedded in the translation
  • Traditional face à face texts with commentary as either preamble, or postscript
  • Text that is woven into the translation and its original and displayed as gloss, or marginalia, in the manner of medieval commentary
  • Visual expression rendered through typeface and formatting play with original and translation
  • Annotated translation

The submission deadline is November 15, 2020. 10 short poems, or the equivalent is the maximum translated text. The commentary should not exceed 2,500 words. Please contact the editors, Beatriz Hausner and Bilal Hashmi, at soumissions.ellipse@gmail.com if you have further questions.

Translations should be sent alongside their source texts, and documentation indicating that the translator has secured the translation rights must be provided. It is the translator’s responsibility to secure translation rights; ellipse will not publish any translation for which the translator has not provided written proof that permissions have been granted.

Included in a single Word document should also be the author’s and the translator’s bio of approximately 50 words each. All submissions should be sent to the following address: soumissions.ellipse@gmail.com. ellipse will be available online. We look forward to reading your translations. The ellipse editorial board is comprised of Arianne Des Rochers, Bilal Hashmi, Beatriz Hausner, Benoit Léger, Danièle Marcoux, and Patricia Godbout (Editor-At-Large).