Enlarge image
Author Cristina Morales
Photo: Mario Guzman / EPA-EFE
The writer Cristina Morales and the translator Friederike von Criegern are awarded the International Literature Prize for translated contemporary literature for their novel »Leichte Sprache«.
The prize, worth 20,000 euros for authors and 15,000 euros for translators, is intended to honor the special alliance between the two parties.
It was awarded for the 14th time by the House of World Cultures and the Elementary Particles Foundation.
"Light language" is a polyphonic first-person narrative, a court report, a conversation report, a novel in easy language, a fanzine.
That was the reasoning of the jury, which this year consisted of Robin Detje, Heike Geißler, Michael Götting, Dominique Haensell, Verena Lueken, Annika Reich and Elisabeth Ruge.
»This novel is not a fairy tale of inclusion, it is a catalog of demands.
He insists on naming differences, on clarity, he insists on the need to hate, on liveliness, surprise and revolt,” the jury continued.
It is a book made up of many voices, the tone of which often changes quickly.
The jury also praised the discipline with which translator Criegern faced this challenge.
You couldn't imagine a greater challenge for a translator.
Author Cristina Morales studied law and political science and works as a legal interpreter in Barcelona.
She has written several award-winning novels and short stories and is considered one of Spain's best young authors.
Her novel »Light Language« was awarded the Premio Herralde de Novela, and in 2019 she was the youngest author to win the Premio Nacional de Narrativa of the Spanish Ministry of Culture.
Morales is also a dancer and choreographer for the contemporary dance company Iniciativa Sexual Femenina.
Friederike von Criegern is a literary translator and freelance lecturer in literature and translation.
She has a PhD in Chilean poetry and translates fiction, poetry and theater from Spanish.
All other authors and translators each receive 1,000 euros for being nominated for the shortlist.
ip