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Translators' Formative Agency in the Periodical Hawar (1932-1943)
The Making of a Kurdish Cultural Identity
Series: - Brill Kurdish Studies, Volume: 2
Author:
Winner of the Serbest Best Book Award in Humanities in Kurdish Studies 2026
The present work uncovers the pivotal role translations in the periodical Hawar played in the formation of a Kurdish cultural identity. In this light, it foregrounds translators' agency and their contributions in novel contexts and thus fills a crucial gap in this area.This work provides new insights into identity formation, focusing on translations in a key magazine published in a minoritized language in the 1930s and 1940s. In this context, it particularly underscores the agency of Celadet AliÌ Bedirxan as the leading translator and writer as well as the founder and chief editor of the magazine. His vision of Kurdish cultural identity in Hawar had a multilayered characteristic: It was oriented toward a dialogic relationship between Kurdish and western cultures. It proposed the Roman script for Kurdish language dialects and introduced a simple prose style. It also embraced a plural Kurdish religious aspect and led the way to the development of modern Kurdish literature.
The present work uncovers the pivotal role translations in the periodical Hawar played in the formation of a Kurdish cultural identity. In this light, it foregrounds translators' agency and their contributions in novel contexts and thus fills a crucial gap in this area.This work provides new insights into identity formation, focusing on translations in a key magazine published in a minoritized language in the 1930s and 1940s. In this context, it particularly underscores the agency of Celadet AliÌ Bedirxan as the leading translator and writer as well as the founder and chief editor of the magazine. His vision of Kurdish cultural identity in Hawar had a multilayered characteristic: It was oriented toward a dialogic relationship between Kurdish and western cultures. It proposed the Roman script for Kurdish language dialects and introduced a simple prose style. It also embraced a plural Kurdish religious aspect and led the way to the development of modern Kurdish literature.
Dibar Ãelik, Ph.D. (2023), BoÄaziçi University, is currently an independent scholar. His research is mainly focused on translation history, translation in minoritized languages, translation in periodicals, literary translation and retranslation. He has also published and contributed to Kurdish literary translations, including Girava GenciÌneyeÌ (Lîs, 2010).
Acknowledgements
List of Figures
Introduction
1 Revisiting Hawar In Novel Contexts
â1âCultural identity
â2âImagined communities
â3âTranslation in minoritized languages
â4âCulture planning
â5âMethodology
2 Celadet Alî Bedirxan as an Agent
â1âThe Bedirxanî Family
â2âCeladet Alî Bedirxan
â3âCeladet Alî Bedirxan and Hawar
â4âOther aspects reinforcing his agency
â5âDiscussing Hawar as an agent
3 Translational Habitus of Hawar: Social Codes
â1âThe publisher
â2âThe editor-in-chief
â3âTranslators
â4âReaders and circulation
4 Translational Habitus of Hawar: Compositional, Economic, Temporal and Material Codes
â1âThe title of the magazine
â2âCompositional codes
â3âEconomic codes
â4âTemporal codes
â5âMaterial codes
5 Formation of a Cultural Identity through Translations in Hawar
â1âTranslations addressing the Kurdish readership
â2âTranslations addressing the western readership
Conclusion
Appendix 1: A French Mandate Document Dated March24, 1933
Appendix 2: A French Mandate Document Dated April4, 1933
Appendix 3: A Confidential Letter by âDélégué General Du Haut Commissaireâ Dated June25, 1933
References
Index
List of Figures
Introduction
1 Revisiting Hawar In Novel Contexts
â1âCultural identity
â2âImagined communities
â3âTranslation in minoritized languages
â4âCulture planning
â5âMethodology
2 Celadet Alî Bedirxan as an Agent
â1âThe Bedirxanî Family
â2âCeladet Alî Bedirxan
â3âCeladet Alî Bedirxan and Hawar
â4âOther aspects reinforcing his agency
â5âDiscussing Hawar as an agent
3 Translational Habitus of Hawar: Social Codes
â1âThe publisher
â2âThe editor-in-chief
â3âTranslators
â4âReaders and circulation
4 Translational Habitus of Hawar: Compositional, Economic, Temporal and Material Codes
â1âThe title of the magazine
â2âCompositional codes
â3âEconomic codes
â4âTemporal codes
â5âMaterial codes
5 Formation of a Cultural Identity through Translations in Hawar
â1âTranslations addressing the Kurdish readership
â2âTranslations addressing the western readership
Conclusion
Appendix 1: A French Mandate Document Dated March24, 1933
Appendix 2: A French Mandate Document Dated April4, 1933
Appendix 3: A Confidential Letter by âDélégué General Du Haut Commissaireâ Dated June25, 1933
References
Index
Kurdish, translation and periodical studies scholars and students, as well as people interested in Kurdish history, literature and language, as well as folklore.