15 January 2026

Call for Applications: Wasafiri Translator in Residence – Endangered Languages

We are excited to open applications for a UK-based Translator in Residence working with/in Endangered Languages. We invite proposals from translators specialising in translating from an endangered language from anywhere in the world into English, in any genre (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essay, and plays). The endangered language can belong to oral or semi-oral traditions, collaborative or community-based practices, and non-standardised forms.

Wasafiri was founded in 1984 in the spirit of recognising the largest possible literary community and has since platformed the voices of multilingual writers and writing that traverses linguistic and geographical boundaries. We remain committed to forging and mapping new landscapes in contemporary international writing by nurturing and championing diverse, plural, and often overlooked perspectives.

Translation is a vital act of understanding and meaning-making. As Wasafiri continues to find new ways to support both translators and the art and praxis of translation, we have, in recent years, appointed a Translator in Residence (Sawad Hussain; Deepa Bhasthi) in addition to our annual Writer in Residence. For 2026, we are excited to open applications for a UK-based Translator in Residence working with/in Endangered Languages.

According to the Endangered Languages Project's Catalogue of Endangered Languages, nearly half of all languages are at risk of being silenced, and language loss is now happening faster than at any time in human history. An endangered language is one that is at risk of extinction. A language is at risk of extinction when its speakers cease to use it and cease to pass it on from one generation to the next, meaning there are no new speakers of the language. When a language becomes extinct, it results in the loss of cultural, historical, and ecological knowledge. An extinct language cannot be revived. Language endangerment is closely tied to ongoing colonial histories of education and linguistic hierarchy, among others, which makes translation an ethical and political practice.

The aims of the (remote) residency are to widen Wasafiri’s reach across the UK and wider world, taking the organisation and its work beyond London to cultivate new talents and provoke conversations.

During the period of the residency, the Translator in Residence will be expected to lead four workshops, participate in an event on endangered languages in translation, write one piece for Wasafiri.org, and support the promotion of Wasafiri and its work.

The remote residency will last for six months starting no earlier than March 2026. The fee for the residency is £1600.

Please apply by midnight on 15 February 2026 with:

A 1-page cover letter explaining your motivation for applying including details about the endangered language(s) you work from
A 500-word residency proposal outlining your plans for four workshops – or a short course – designed to engage new audiences with translation, creative writing, and issues relevant to international literature, in particular translating endangered languages

A CV with the name of one referee directly connected to your creative and translation practice

Only candidates with permission to work in the UK are eligible.

Please send your cover letter and CV to Elizabeth Robertson, Administration and Programmes Manager: wasafiri-manager@qmul.ac.uk

Please also direct any queries regarding the position to the same address.

Wasafiri does not discriminate on grounds of age, disability, gender, marital status, maternity and pregnancy, race, religion, class, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. We encourage applications from all eligible individuals from all backgrounds.

Applications close at midnight on 15 February 2026.
Interviews will be held in the week commencing 23 February 2026.

Cover image: Dialogue I by Constantin Flondor