Mediating Meaning: Feminist and Political Ethics of Translation in the Global South

Translation is often perceived as a linguistic task—converting words from one language into another. Yet, this seemingly neutral process is profoundly political. Translation involves choices that reflect ideologies, cultural priorities, and power dynamics. This paper explores translation and interpretation as political practices, drawing from postcolonial theory, conflict studies, institutional translation, and real-world scenarios. It argues that translation is a form of mediation that shapes political discourse, national identity, and access to justice. Through a qualitative discourse analysis of textual and institutional translation practices, the paper seeks to humanize translation, emphasizing the ethical responsibilities of translators and interpreters in today’s interconnected, multilingual world.