Propagandist, Intelligence Officer, Collaborator: Representations of Interpreters in Halide Edib's Narratives of the Turkish War of Independence

Abstract

Throughout history, translators and interpreters have played crucial roles in times of war. The increasing significance of intelligence and propaganda in modern warfare has further amplified their importance. Despite their vital contributions, translators and interpreters remain underrepresented in war literature. This study explores the representation of interpreters in literary narratives, arguing that their portrayal provides valuable insights into their historical mission-an often-overlooked subject in historiography. Within historical and literary narratives of the Turkish War of Independence, translator and interpreter figures are nearly absent. However, Halide Edib's novel Ate & scedil;ten G & ouml;mlek and her autobiographical works Mor Salk & imath;ml & imath; Ev and T & uuml;rk'& uuml;n Ate & scedil;le & Idot;mtihan & imath; stand out for their subtle yet significant representations of translators and interpreters. Halide Edib's deep engagement with multiple languages and literatures, along with her career as a translator and interpreter, strongly influenced these portrayals. In this study, the representations of translators and interpreters in the aforementioned works are classified into three categories: propagandists, intelligence officers, and collaborators- each carrying both positive and negative connotations. These portrayals are examined through a comparative and critical lens, shedding light on the complex roles of translators and interpreters in wartime narratives of the Turkish War of Independence.