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The City of Nantes entrusted a very unusual assignment to CG Traduction & Interprétation for the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery: translate the word “Freedom” into 212 languages.

Nantes is demonstrating its willingness to face up to history and come to terms with its turbulent past of being a slave-trading port in the 18th century by building a monument on the banks of the Loire river. Above all, though, Nantes wants to embrace the future with open arms and convey its commitment to fighting all forms of slavery and alienation, both present and future.

Visitors can read the word “Freedom” on huge glass plaques translated into 47 languages at the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery. Whether they originate in Africa, America, the West Indies, the Indian Ocean or Europe, these languages are spoken in several countries involved in the slave trade and colonial slavery.

 

CG Traduction in pursuit of the world’s languages and dialects

In order to meet Nantes’ request of adding 212 other translations of the word “Freedom” to the memorial, CG went on a quest for written and spoken languages, both past and present, as well as dialects in all countries around the world. How many can be found? How many did or do still speak them? CG then set about finding the maximum number of languages/dialects out of the 212 and contacting professional translatorsto translate the word “Freedom”.

This assignment was a real adventure, as the CG Traduction & Interprétation team went in pursuit of languages such as Zamuco, Chimane, Kannada, Telugu and even Sotho, taking them through the Bolivian Amazon to India, Pondicherry and the lands of the Bantu-speaking people in South Africa.

CG Traduction & Interprétation: combining expertise and professionalism

It’s by no means a coincidence that the City of Nantes contacted the teams at CG to complete such an unusual assignment combining open-mindedness, expertise, professionalism and efficiency.

For Catherine Granell, Director of CG Traduction & Interprétation, it’s something of a symbolic adventure that is in phase with her proactive stance in relation to human rights and her commitment as a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact.

If you would like to call on an expert team of translation and interpreting professionals, contact CG Traduction & Interprétation.