缅北禁地

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Staff Profile

Emeritus Professor Francis Jones

Emeritus Professor of Translation Studies

Background

Introduction

I have retired from 缅北禁地 as a salaried staff member. However, I still give occasional lectures, I'm still writing research papers, and I'm still translating for publication.

My research focuses on poetry translation. 

I'm a poetry translator myself. I work largely from Dutch and Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, though I've also translated from Hungarian, Russian, and Caribbean languages. Besides translating into standard English, I've also translated into Northern-English dialects. I have about 17 published books of translated poetry, with one more in press. These have won a good number of prizes (see below).

Background

I studied German and Serbo-Croat on my BA at Cambridge University, followed by a year researching South Slav poetry at Sarajevo University in Bosnia, former Yugoslavia.

After working as a Dutch-English in-house translator, I combined freelance technical, commercial and literary translating with teaching English in the Netherlands and Greece. I joined Exeter University in 1988. I joined 缅北禁地 in 1990, working initially in foreign-language learning. I taught translation-related topics at 缅北禁地 between the mid-1990s and 2023. I was a founder staff member of 缅北禁地's MA programmes in Chinese-English and European-languages translating and interpreting, which started in 1997.

I also have translation editing experience, mainly in South Slav culture, politics and philosophy.

Qualifications

PhD (self-instruction in adult foreign-language learning), 缅北禁地, 1996

MA, Applied Linguistics, Reading University, 1988

PGCE, Manchester Polytechnic, 1980

BA, Modern and Medieval Languages (Serbo-Coat and German), St. John's College, Cambridge University, 1977

Memberships

Honorary Member, Udruženje prevodilaca u BiH (Translators' Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Honours and Awards

2019: Third Prize, Open category, Stephen Spender Prize for poetry in translation

2013: First Prize, John Dryden Translation Competition 

2010: Winner, David Reid Poetry Translation Prize

2008: Runner-up, Vondel Prize for Translation of Dutch literature

2008: Runner-Up, David Reid Poetry Translation Prize

2008: “Publication of the Year” Shield, XX Sarajevo International Book Fair (with editor and graphic designer)

2007: Winner, David Reid Poetry Translation Prize

2005: Inaugural Winner, James Brockway Prize for the Translation of Dutch Poetry

2000: Best Translation, Association of Publishers and Booksellers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (with editor, publisher and graphic designer)

1999: Winner, Sarajevo April 6th Prize.

1997: Joint Winner, European Poetry Translation Prize

1996/7: Commendation, British Comparative Literature Association Translation Competition

1994/5: Second Prize, British Comparative Literature Association Translation Competition

1991: Winner, European Poetry Translation Prize

1988: Honorable Mention, James S. Holmes Translation Awards, Columbia University.

Languages

Native: English

Near-native: Dutch

Fluent: French, German, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Italian

Basic knowledge: Hungarian, Latin, Modern Greek, Russian, Spanish

Informal Interests

Poetry translating

Cycling

Lute playing

...

Teaching

I give occasional guest lectures and workshops about literary and poetry translating.

Research

Research Interests

My research is inspired by my work as a poetry translator, mostly from Dutch and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian. It falls into two overlapping areas:

  • Poetry translation - especially how poetry translators translate and how they work with others, creativity and style. Also, identity, ideology and the social/ethical role of the poetry translator.
  • South Slav (ex-Yugoslav) area studies, especially in the fields of modern poetry, culture and identity, with a specific interest in Bosnia and Serbia.

Other Expertise

Foreign/second language learning, especially in the field of self-instruction. This was the topic of my PhD thesis. Though I am no longer researching this area, it still interests me from a practical viewpoint.

Recent and Current Work

I've just finished work on a project "Poetry translation in poet-advisor-poet trios: collaborative, cross-language and creative processes". This explored how Dutch and UK poets translated each other's work with the help of 'language advisors' (bilingual translator intermediaries). I worked with colleagues from Modern Languages and Creative Writing at 缅北禁地, and from Roehampton University. The project was funded by the UK's Arts and Humanities Research Council.

I’ve recently been exploring the notion of “dedicated experts” in literary translation. These are translators who become major intercultural ambassadors. They translate a lot themselves, but they often also encourage others to translate by acting as mentors, editors and/or translation commissioners. Two such figures I’ve written about are James S. Holmes (the Netherlands and Flanders) and Rusmir Mahmutćehajić (Bosnia & Herzegovina).

I also write analyses of poets and poems that I’m translating myself, combining literary-critical and translation-studies insights. A recent example is an article about the late-Yugoslav/Serbian poet Ivan V. Lalić.

See also my .


Publications

  • Articles

    • Jones F. . Logos Journal of Philosophy and Religion 2025, 12(1-2), 9-28.
    • Jones FR. . Forum Bosnae 2024, 100(22), 42-51.
    • Lobejón Santos S, Jones FR. . Target 2020, 32(2), 282-306.
    • Jones FR. . Translation and Literature 2016, 25(1), 58-83.
    • Jones FR. . Target: International Journal of Translation Studies 2014, 26(1), 32-62.
    • Jones FR, Balázs A. . Hungarian Review 2013, 4(6), 81-91.
    • Jones FR. . Translator 2010, 16(2), 223-253.
    • Jones FR. . Forum Bosnae 2010, 51, 278-288.
    • Jones FR. . Modern Poetry in Translation 2006, 3(6), 158-167.
    • Jones FR. . Yearbook of English Studies 2006, 36(1), 191-203.
    • Hartmann RRK, Jones FR. . Translating Today 2005, 1(3), 9-11.
    • Jones FR. . Meta 2004, 49(4), 711-728.
    • Jones FR, Turner A. . Across Languages and Cultures 2004, 5(2), 159-185.
    • Jones FR. . Sarajevske sveske 2003, 3, 101-123.
    • Jones FR, Jones FR. . Reconstruction and Deconstruction: special edition of Forum Bosnae 2002, 15, 5-17.
    • Lovrenović I, Marić M (trans.), Jones FR (trans.). . Life at the Crossroads: special edition of Forum Bosnae 2001, 11, 14-19.
    • Jones FR. . Translation and Literature 2000, 9(1), 65-87.
    • Jones FR. . Forum Bosnae 1999, 3-4, 201-223.
    • Jones FR. . Applied Linguistics 1998, 19(3), 378-406.
    • Jones FR. . Forum Bosnae 1998, 1-2, 195-207.
    • Jones FR. . Independence 1996, 18, 16-19.
    • Jones FR. . Oslobodjenje 1996, (25 March).
    • Jones FR. . The Guardian 1996, (2nd August), 14.
    • Jones FR. . Second Language Research 1995, 11(2), 95-111.
    • Jones FR. . Greta 1995, 3(2), 19-23.
    • Jones FR. . System 1994, 22(4), 441-454.
    • Jones FR. . Ex Symposion 1994, 8-9, 66-72.
    • Jones FR. . North Dakota Quarterly 1993, 61, 83-88.
    • Jones FR. . System 1993, 21(4), 453-469.
    • Jones FR. . System 1992, 20(2), 133-150.
    • Jones FR. . University of East Anglia Papers in Linguistics 1991, 31-32, 37-54.
    • Jones FR. . System 1991, 19(1-2), 1-13.
    • Jones FR. . System 1991, 19(3), 151-169.
    • Jones FR. . Target 1989, 1(2), 183-199.
    • Jones FR. The rose whose scent is time: the poetry of Ivan V. Lalić. Tracks 1982, 2, 31-34.

  • Authored Books

    • Herbert WN, Jones F, Sampson F. . Abingdon: Routledge, 2024.
    • Jones FR. . Amsterdam; Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 2011.
    • Jones FR. . Sarajevo: Buybook, 2004.
    • Fernández-Toro M, Jones FR. . London, UK: CILT, 2001.

  • Book Chapters

    • Jones F. . In: Baeke, J, ed. Bigger than the Facts. Todmorden, UK: Arc Publications, 2020, pp.15-22.
    • Jones FR. . In: Baker M; Saldanha G, ed. Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. London: Routledge, 2019.
    • Jones FR. . In: Fernandez F; Evans J, ed. Routledge Handbook of Translation and Politics. London, UK: Routledge, 2018, pp.309-322.
    • Jones FR. . In: Boase-Beier J; Fisher L; Furukawa H, ed. Palgrave Handbook of Literary Translation. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018, pp.309-332.
    • Jones FR. . In: Boase-Beier J; Davies P; Winters M; Hammel A, ed. Translating Holocaust Lives. London: Bloomsbury, 2017.
    • Jones FR. . In: Vidaković-Petrov,K, ed. Srpska književnost 20 veka: poetika prevođenja i interkulturno istraživanje [Serbian Literature of the 20th Century: Poetics of Translation, and Intercultural Research]. Belgrade: Instituta za književnost i umetnost, 2016, pp.247-270.
    • Jones F. . In: Wigman, M, ed. Window-Cleaner Sees Paintings. Lancashire: Arc Publications, 2016, pp.7-13.
    • Jones FR. . In: Malmkjær, K., Windle, K, ed. The Oxford Handbook of Translation Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011, pp.169-182.
    • Jones FR. . In: Gambier, Y., Van Doorslaer, L, ed. Handbook of Translation Studies. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 2011, pp.117-122.
    • Jones FR. . In: Kušar, M, ed. Ljubljana. Todmorden: Arc, 2010, pp.18-25.
    • Jones FR. . In: Jope, N., Derrick, P.S, ed. The Salt Companion to Richard Berengarten. Cambridge, UK: Salt, 2010.
    • Jones FR. . In: Baker, M; Saldanha, G, ed. Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. London: Routledge, 2009, pp.152-157.
    • Jones FR. . In: Baker, M, ed. Translation Studies: Critical Concepts in Linguistics. London: Routledge, 2009, pp.3-24.
    • Jones FR. . In: Milton, J., Bandia, P, ed. Agents of Translation. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2009, pp.301-325.
    • Standen N, Jones F. . In: Beal, JC; Corrigan, KP; Moisl, HL, ed. Creating and Digitizing Language Corpora: Diachronic Databases. Houndsmills: Palgrave, 2007, pp.172-195.
    • Jones F. . In: Petkovic, N Jovanovic, A, ed. Postsimbolistička poetika Ivana V. Lalića [The Post-Symbolist Poetics of Ivan V. Lalić]. Belgrade: Institut za književnost i umetnost / Učiteljski fakultet, 2007, pp.483-506.
    • Jones FR. . In: Mahmutćehajić, R, ed. Unity and Plurality in Europe. Special issue of Forum Bosnae. Sarajevo Bosnia & Herzegovina: Medunarodni Forum Bosna, 2007, pp.265-290.
    • Jones FR. . In: Perteghella, Manuela; Loffredo, Eugenia, ed. Translation and Creativity: Perspectives on Creative Writing and Translation Studies. London: Continuum, 2006, pp.59-74.
    • Jones FR. . In: Strazny, P, ed. Encyclopaedia of Linguistics. New York: Routledge, 2005.
    • Jones FR. . In: Strazny, P, ed. Encyclopaedia of Linguistics. New York: Routledge, 2005.
    • Jones FR, Arsenijevic D. . In: House J; Martín Ruano MR; Baumgarten N, ed. Translation and the Construction of Identity: IATIS Yearbook 2005. Seoul: IATIS, 2005, pp.68-95.
    • Jones FR. . In: Buturović, A, ed. Stone Speaker: Medieval Tombs, Landscape and Bosnian Identity in the Poetry of Mak Dizdar. New York, USA: Palgrave, 2002, pp.165-180.
    • Jones FR. . In: Lovrenović, I., Jones, F.R, ed. Life at the Crossroads: special edition of Forum Bosnae. Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina: Medunarodni Forum Bosna, 2001, pp.261-285.
    • Jones FR. . In: Hudson, R., Réno F, ed. Politics of Identity: Migrants and Minorities in Multicultural States. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2000, pp.293-312.
    • Jones FR. Report on Session 2: “Normalization - a constant threat”. In: Allén, S, ed. Translation of Poetry and Poetic Prose. Singapore / New York: World Scientific Publishing, 1999.
    • Jones FR. Report on Session 1: “Fundamental theoretical issues”. In: Allén, S, ed. Translation of Poetry and Poetic Prose. Singapore; New York: World Scientific Publishing, 1999.
    • Jones FR. . In: Agee, C, ed. Scar on the Stone: Contemporary Poetry from Bosnia. 缅北禁地 upon Tyne, UK: Bloodaxe, 1998, pp.45-.
    • Jones FR. . In: Ciecierska, J., Grundy, P, ed. Independent Learning: Practice and Theory. Warsaw, Poland: Akademia Medyczna, 1997, pp.74-89.
    • Jones FR. . In: Mihailovitch, V, ed. Dictionary of Literary Biography: South Slavic Writers since World War II. Detroit, Michigan, USA: Gale Research, 1997.
    • Fernández Toro M, Jones FR. . In: Broady, E., Kenning, M.M, ed. Promoting Learner Autonomy in University Language Teaching. London, UK: CILT, 1996, pp.185–214.
    • Jones FR. . In: Chan, S.W., Pollard, D, ed. An Encyclopaedia of Translation: Chinese-English, English-Chinese. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 1995, pp.487-504.
    • Jones FR. A plank missing or a screw loose? On translating Serbo-Croat poetry. In: Đidić, L., Lazić, D., Hawkesworth, E.C., Johnson, B.S, ed. South Slav Perspectives: Liber Amicorum in Honour of E. D. Goy. London; Kragujevac: London University; Bagdana, 1989.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

    • Jones FR. Teach-yourself package design: learning from experience. In: Supporting Distance Learning in Languages. 1998, Milton Keynes: Open University Centre for Modern Languages.
    • Jones FR. Four-dimensional crosswords. In: Transferre necesse est: proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Current Trends in Studies of Translation and Interpreting. 1997, Budapest, Hungary: Scholastica.
    • Jones FR. Dirk van Bastelaere. In: Poetry International Festivalboek. 1997, Rotterdam: Poetry International.

  • Creative Writing

    • Linder E, Jones FR (trans.). . Signal Poetry 2021. Véhicule Press, 80.
    • Radnóti M, Jones FR (trans.). . Visible Poets 2019. Arc.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . Poetry from the Netherlands. Special issue of The Enchanting Verses Literary Review 2018. XXVI, 44-47.
    • Jansma E, Jones FR (trans.). . Poetry from the Netherlands. Special issue of The Enchanting Verses Literary Review 2018. XXVI, 88-91.
    • Lindner E, Jones FR (trans.). . Poetry from the Netherlands. Special issue of The Enchanting Verses Literary Review 2018. XXVI, 100-103.
    • Lalić IV, Jones FR (tr.). . Modern Poetry in Translation 2017. Modern Poetry in Translation, 2017(3), 51-56.
    • Jansma E, Jones FR (trans.). . In Person: World Poets 2017. Bloodaxe, 313-321.
    • Jones F (trans.). . Northumbrian Language Society Newsletter 2017. Autumn, 6.
    • Lindner E, Jones FR (trans.). . The Wolf 2016. 33, 42-43.
    • Vešović M, Jones FR. . Irish Pages 2016. Irish Pages, 9/2, 46-51.
    • Lindner E, Jones FR (trans.). . 2015. Jan van Eyck Academie, 8.
    • Lalić IV, Jones FR (trans.), Jovanović A (ed.), Šeatović Dimitrijević S (ed.). . 2014. Univerzitetska biblioteka “Svetozar Marković”.
    • Jones FR (trans.). . The Hundred Years' War: Modern War Poems 2014. Bloodaxe Books Ltd, 199-200, 483.
    • Lalić IV, Jones FR (trans.). . Comparative Critical Studies 2014. Edinburgh University Press, 11(1), 92-102.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.), Faverey L (trans.). . 2011. Leon Works, xxviii + 97.
    • Mahmutćehajić R. . Abrahamic Dialogues 2011. Fordham University Press, 192.
    • Jones FR (trans). . Forum Bosnae 2010. Medunarodni Forum Bosna, 51, 270-275.
    • Dizdar M, Jones FR. . 2009. Anvil, 144.
    • Skenderija S, Browne W (trans.), Jones FR (trans.), Tate A (trans.). . 2008. Black Buzzard, 96.
    • Jansma E, Jones FR (trans.). . 2008. Bloodaxe, 96.
    • Jansma E, Jones FR (trans.). . Poetry Wales 2007. Poetry Wales Press, 42(3), 45-47.
    • Kulenovic S, Jones FR (trans.). . Special Edition of Forum Bosnae 2007. Medunarodni Forum Bosna, 41/07.
    • Van Toorn W, Jones FR (trans.). . Under Strange Sail: Translations and Improvisations from Many Hands 2007. Barbarian Press.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . World Beat: International Poetry Now from New Directions 2006. New Directions Publishing, 169-178.
    • van Bastelaere D, Groenewegen W (trans.), Irons J (trans.), Jones FR (trans.). . 2005. Shearsman, 120.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . Words Without Borders 2005. Words Without Borders.
    • Jansma E, Jones FR (trans.). . Irish Pages 2005. Irish Pages, 3(1), 63-80.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . 2004. New Directions, 240.
    • Lalić IV, Jones FR (trans.). . Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal Times 2002. Bloodaxe, 424.
    • Dizdar M, Jones FR (trans.). . Stone Speaker: Medieval Tombs, Landscape and Bosnian Identity in the Poetry of Mak Dizdar 2002. Palgrave, 180-198.
    • Mahmutćehajić R, Bowder M (trans.), Jones FR (trans.). . Post-Communist Cultural Studies 2000. Penn State University Press, 156.
    • Radnóti M, Jones FR (trans.). . Visible Poets 2000. Arc, 74.
    • Dizdar M, Jones FR (trans.). . 1999. Kuća bosanska, 271.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . Callaloo 1998. 21(3), 453-455.
    • Dizdar M, Jones FR (trans.). . Scar on the Stone 1998. Bloodaxe.
    • Anonymous, Jones FR (trans.). . Callaloo 1998. 21(3), 511.
    • Sickman Corsen J, Jones FR (trans.). . Callaloo 1998. 21(3), 512.
    • Jellema CO, Jones FR (trans.). . Modern Poetry in Translation 1998. 12, 249-268.
    • Jones FR. . Callaloo 1998. Johns Hopkins University Press, 21(3), 458-465.
    • Lalić IV, Jones FR (trans.). . 1997. Anvil, 96.
    • Popa V, Jones FR (trans.), Pennington A (trans.). . 1997. Anvil, 464.
    • Dizdar M, Jones FR (trans.). . Stone Soup 1997. 3, 6-17.
    • Lalić IV, Jones FR (trans.). . 1996. Anvil, 200.
    • Jones FR. . Contemporary Criticism 1994. (16), 105-125.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . 1994. Anvil, 96.
    • Jones FR. . Why Bosnia? Writings on the Balkan War 1993. Pamphleteer's Press, 66-68.
    • Bosnevic O, Jones FR (trans.). . Why Bosnia? Writings on the Balkan War 1993. Pamphleteer's Press, 103-113.
    • Balázs A, Jones FR (trans.). . Why Bosnia? Writings on the Balkan War 1993. Pamphleteer's Press, 98-102.
    • Dizdar M, Jones FR (trans.). . Why Bosnia? Writings on the Balkan War 1993. Pamphleteer's Press.
    • Jones FR. . Why Bosnia? Writings on the Balkan War 1993. Pamphleteer's Press, 23-33.
    • Dizdar M, Jones FR (trans.). . North Dakota Quarterly 1993. University of North Dakota, 61(1), 59-62.
    • Kupriyanov V, Jones FR (trans.). . 1992. Forest Books, 111.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . Translation 1990. Translation Studies Research Focus Group, 24, 143-149.
    • Lalić IV, Jones FR (trans.). . 1989. Anvil; Dedalus, 96.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . Poetry World 1988. University of London King's College, 2, 138-143.
    • Popa V, Jones FR (trans.). . Poetry World 1986. University of London King's College, 1, 8-32.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . Stand 1986. Stand Magazine Ltd, (Spring), 21.
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . Contemporary Music and Poetry from the Netherlands 1986. Hemmer.
    • Lalić IV, Jones FR (trans.). . 1985. Anvil; Turret, 32.
    • Lalić IV, Jones FR (trans.). . 1981. Anvil, 80.

  • Edited Books

    • Jones FR, ed. . London, UK: Anvil, 2011.
    • Jones FR, Lovrenović I, ed. . Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina: Medunarodni Forum Bosna, 2002.
    • Lovrenović I, Jones FR, ed. . Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina: Medunarodni Forum Bosna, 2001.
    • Balázs A, Coulthard I, Jones FR, ed. . Szeged: MASZK, 1996.
    • Mahmutćehajić R, Beus S (trans.), Jones FR (trans.), ed. . Ljubljana: Oslobodjenje International, 1996.
    • Kiš D, Heim MH (trans.), Jones FR (trans.), Manheim R (trans.), ed. . New York, USA: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1995.

  • Online Publications

    • Jones FR. . Granada: Asociación Ibérica de Estudios de Traducción e Interpretación (AIETI), 2024. Available at: .
    • Jones FR. . Granada: Asociación Ibérica de Estudios de Traducción e Interpretación (AIETI), 2024. Available at: .
    • Jones FR, Franco Aixelá J (trans.). . Granada: Asociación Ibérica de Estudios de Traducción e Interpretación (AIETI), 2024. Available at: .
    • Jones FR, Kahmann AC (trans.), Gonsales Aseff M (trans.). . Granada: Asociación Ibérica de Estudios de Traducción e Interpretación (AIETI), 2024. Available at: .
    • Jones F. . University of York: Eborakon, 2017. Available at: .
    • Lindner E, Vincent P (trans.), Jones FR (trans.). . Rotterdam: Poetry International Foundation, 2016. Available at: .
    • Faverey H, Jones FR (trans.). . Rotterdam: On website Poetry International Rotterdam, 2014. Available at: .
    • Jansma E, Jones FR (trans.). . 缅北禁地 upon Tyne, UK: Interpoetry, 2006. Available at: .
    • Jones FR. . Bosnia & Herzegovina: Stolac, Wordpress, 2001. Available at: .

  • Reviews

    • Jones FR. . Translation Studies 2014, 7(3), 360-363.
    • Jones F. . Modern Language Review 2006, 101(3), 821-822.
    • Jones F, Jones-Teuben H. . In Other Words 2002, 19(Autumn), 57-58.
    • Jones FR. Review of The Iron-Blue Vault: Selected Poems, by Attila József and Eternal Monday: New and Selected Poems, by György Petri. In Other Words 1999, 17.
    • Jones FR. . Dialogue 1997, 3-4, 259-261.
    • Jones FR. . Web Journal of Modern Language Linguistics 1996, 2.
    • Jones FR. [Book review] Lehrberger, J., Bourbeau, L., 'Machine Translation: Linguistic Characteristics of MT Systems and General Methodology of Evaluation' Amsterdam: Benjamins, 1988. Multilingua 1992.
    • Jones FR. . Poetry Review 1990, 80(2), 86-88.
    • Jones FR. . Multilingua 1989, 8(4), 418-422.
    • Jones FR. . Target 1989, 1(2), 257-259.