Lobbying | CEATL Companion for Literary Translators' Associations

The German Association VdÜ has developed a very useful tool in contract negotiating which can be used by all translators, members and non-members.

The KNÜLL file, as it is called, is an information exchange between literary translators on the current status of the contractual conditions.

The file is based on the contractual conditions offered by publishers and other copyright exploiters, as reported by the translators. Upon request, this information is available to all colleagues in order to improve their stance in contract negotiations. Personal information is neither saved nor passed on; inquiries and reports are treated with absolute confidentiality.

In order to always be up to date, KNÜLL relies on the active support of the translators, who can provide information such as publisher name, language combination, genre of the work, publishing format, payment conditions, additional rights, etc. in an online form (sent by e-mail or by post: https://literaturuebersetzer.de/site/assets/files/1087/knuell-meldeformular_2022.pdf).

Inquiries can be made informally (the quickest way is by email). The translators addressing the inquiry are asked to state the publisher’s name, language, format and type of text and, if necessary, provide other information if it is relevant to the negotiation.

Inquiries are free of charge, active reporting is encouraged between members and non-members so that the position of each and every individual is strengthened and translators can benefit from a stronger starting point in negotiating.

As per December 2023, the database provides data on contract conditions of around 200 publishing houses and imprints in the german speaking market.

The file has been founded in 1994 by colleagues in Frankfurt and has been in development ever since.

VdÜ keeps sending friendly reminders to members in order for them to provide current data. Feeding Knüll is seen as an act of solidarity, helping to improve contract conditions for all colleagues.

In 2020 and 2021, bookfairs were cancelled due to the global corona pandemic. Many panels took place virtually such as this international roundtable about the working conditions of children’s literature translators.

The speakers – CEATL and FIT representatives, child lit translators from the United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, France, Germany and Italy – talked about what it means to translate books for children, reminding the audience that is as difficult as translating adult literature. They illustrated the working conditions in the different countries as well as the Ceatl Code of Good Practices or Hexalogue and the Guidelines for Fair Contracts.

The invitation to an international children’s bookfair like Bologna was an important opportunity to explain what child lit translators do, give them more visibility and, as FIT president Kevin Quirk said: “stand up for our rights.”

Ode to Translators of Children’s Literature

On this most momentous day
Let bells peal and flagpoles sway.
Let’s raise our gazes and sing the praises
Of literary translators in every way.

For you are the ones who make thousands of choices
While lending your readers your very clear voices
Reflecting the cadence and the tone
Of utterances soppy or dry to the bone.

Whether it’s text or speech, you do your best
Ask any one of us; it’s always a test
Of your envious strengths as you work your magic
On texts highly serious or even most tragic.

Whether it’s trashy non-fiction
Or literary greats,
You create understanding
You’re truly outstanding!

You deserve to be praised
You deserve to be proud!
You deserve a poem to be read out loud!

Tag Archives: Lobbying

Informational exchange on contractual conditions between translators

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