Translation and Migration - Narratives of a Transition.

Over the next few decades figures concerning international migration have skyrocketed. The action spaces for international migration have increased mainly owing to the development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the ease and speed of travel. In particular, the globalisation of ICT with the internet revolution – as an alternative to physical mobility – and/or easier and cheaper transport are allowing migrants far more scope than in the past to remain effective members of the culture and society of their country of origin, thus playing a significant role in modifying the nature and patterns of migration itself. International migration today involves a wider diversity of ethnic and cultural groups than ever before, and, while the number of people living and working abroad with irregular status continues to rise, most research and analysis are focusing, «beyond the permanent settlement paradigm» , on the significant growth in temporary migration and circulation. New types of migration are thus emerging, frequently characterised by a blurring both of the boundary between visitor and migrant, and of the place of usual residence. On the one hand, these transformations could stimulate socio-cultural innovation and lead to economic growth and the reduction of poverty, but, on the other hand, they are also exacerbating existing problems and generating new challenges. International migrants come from increasingly varied backgrounds, bringing with them not only different racial and ethnic lineages, but also different cultures and religions, which are often markedly unlike those of the general people(s)in their countries of destination. Accordingly, increasing migration can, on the one hand, enhance diversity but, on the other, can make successful integration policies more and more difficult to be achieved. Most countries are in fact proving unable to deal effectively with the challenge of today’s international mobility of persons. Unfortunately, the ever-growing pressure to migrate, whether for economic needs or to avoid or escape the effects of political unrest, seems to be outstripping the legal framework of many receiving countries, and few topics are attracting more media attention than the struggle to cope with the complex problems generated by this unprecedented phenomenon. Particularly in Europe, which has become a major target continent of immigration, these issues are at the centre of daily political debate. Furthermore, there are strong indications that migration issues will continue to be high on the policy agenda for many years to come, for, if migration maintains the same pace as the last 20 years, by 2050 the flow of international migrants worldwide could be as high as 405 million . Not surprisingly, the future of international migration, is nowadays the subject of a large body of research and literature. Migration touches upon numerous fundamental aspects of society, ranging from ethnic minorities to integration and discrimination, from multiculturalism to human rights, from security to crime, from brain-drain and skilled labour to unemployment. This volume focuses on migration in its socio-linguistic and psychological dimensions, encompassing migration keys mainly associated with communication across linguistic and cross-cultural boundaries. In particular, migration is broadly understood and analysed as relating to the cross-over of language, translation, mediation/interaction activities and representations in a (multi)media framework. The authors’ contributions encompass themes of linguistic and psycho/socio-cultural representation, socio-cultural conflict, renegotiation of individuals and group identities, cross-cultural and cross-linguistic sensitivity. These issues are explored by scholars from renowned Italian universities whose contributions are meant to promote a cross-fertilization of ideas and theoretical approaches.