Currently based
in Paris, France, Julien worked for the Haitian government and the United
Nations for more than a decade, and during that time, she “witnessed an
alarming and widespread issue regarding the quality of Haitian Creole
materials,” she says.
In 2004, Julien
founded Creole Solutions (in Chicago) to provide translation services and support to
organizations that serve Haitian communities. For her, this was more than just
a new business venture; rather, it was her “life's calling”, she says, as she recalls building the business “from the ground up”.
She says she is
continuing to expand Creole Solutions' capabilities, ensuring that she
“leverages every possible tool available to promote her native tongue”. She
translates and publishes short stories that promote literacy and critical
thinking among children in Haiti's remote areas, among her activities. Of
Haitian heritage, Julien has also focused on development, and her university
degrees include a master's in International Development from the Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po).
The following
interview, conducted by telephone and email, is part of SWAN’s series about translators of
Caribbean literature, done in collaboration with the Caribbean Translation
Project.
SWAN: In
2004, you founded Creole Solutions to provide translation services and support
to organizations that serve Haitian communities. Can you tell us about the
reasons and the motivation behind this project?
Marleen
Julien: I played the
role of translator and interpreter for the Haitian Consulate in Chicago since
1998. There was a great need for qualified Haitian Creole language
professionals and reliable linguistic resources at that time.
Organizations
and individuals were constantly reaching out to me for help with translation
and interpretation services. So I started helping pro bono. I eventually became
a freelance translator and interpreter for many organizations. There were,
however, minimal resources for Haitian Creole translators. In 2004, I founded
Creole Solutions to fill that gap.
SWAN: You
speak several languages, including English, French and Haitian Creole. Where
and how did you begin learning languages?
M.J.: Language learning has always been like
second nature to me. I grew up in a multilingual and multicultural environment
in the United States.
As children, my
parents made French music, books, and movies accessible to my siblings and me.
I studied French in high school and college.
When I moved to Paris for my graduate studies, that allowed me to take
my French to the professional level.
My parents also
made sure that we were fluent in Haitian Creole. My mother only spoke in
Haitian Creole with us. My father always bought whatever materials he could
find in Creole because he wanted us to read, speak, and write correctly. I
began to become an expert in Haitian Creole when I worked for the Haitian
Consulate.
M.J.: I would say I have been practicing
translation since childhood. My family moved around a lot, and every few
years, I had to adapt to a new linguistic and cultural environment. I was
already interpreting for family and friends by the time I was in the sixth
grade.
SWAN: You've
translated and published "short stories that promote literacy and critical
thinking amongst children in Haiti's remote areas". Can you tell us more
about this?
M.J.:
I have two boys. I wanted to teach them Haitian Creole as early as
possible. One of my biggest challenges was finding Creole books for their age.
So I started translating children's stories to read to them.
In 2020, I
started sharing the stories with a not-for-profit organization based in Haiti
to use as a part of their literacy program. These stories are valuable
resources for the children because I have adapted them to the Haitian language
and culture.
SWAN: You've
also worked on adapting international fables into Haitian Creole. What are some
of the linguistic challenges of such adaptations?
M.J.: In all of my adaptations, I incorporate
Haitian expressions and proverbs. So one of my biggest challenges is finding
the correct adage to relay the message. I recently translated the Panchatantra
(ancient Indian fables) story of the Mice and the Elephants. The lesson was: a
friend in need is a friend indeed. I incorporated the Haitian saying "Zanmi lwen
se lajan sere", which means that friends who are far away are wonderful for a
rainy day.
Another
challenge is envisioning the fables for a contemporary audience. When I
translated the (Brothers Grimm) classic Four Clever Brothers, I replaced
the dragon with a gangster who kidnapped a wealthy landowner's daughter.
Children in Haiti are not familiar with dragons, but kidnapping is something
they are familiar with because it's in the news.
SWAN: How
important is translation for today's world, and especially for schoolchildren?
M.J.: In Haiti, the schools do not have many
resources. Furthermore, most of the limited resources they have are either
outdated or in the French language. This lack of resources is a significant
barrier to learning. From my experience, translating and adapting for students
in their language and culture allows them to understand the concepts better.
The translated
and adapted materials prepare them to become better students and empower them
not only for themselves but also for their country and the world.
SWAN: In the
Caribbean, as in other regions, it sometimes feels as if countries are divided
by language. How can people in the literary and education spheres help to
bridge these linguistic "borders"?
M.J.: No language medium is shared
universally by all Caribbean peoples. However, we have a shared history and
identity. I began to appreciate Jamaican Patois better when I learned how its
syntax was very similar to that of Haitian Creole. Both languages have roots in
the Fon language. With translation and education, we will realize that we have a lot in common. This realization will lead to a desire to learn more about
each other's languages.
SWAN: How do
you see your translation projects evolving to reach a wider audience?
M.J.: I'm glad you
asked that question. I'm working on a project that I'm very excited about
because I know that it will achieve this exact purpose. It's a transformational
project that will not only enlighten, educate and empower people, it will also
serve to bridge the linguistic gap by sharing our common human experiences
across the globe.
It's my latest
book, and I'll be launching it this summer. I'm looking forward to sharing it
with the world. – SWAN
Photos: Marleen Julien by Walter Aleman Photography and Events; the cover of one of Julien’s translations into Haitian Creole.
Follow The Caribbean Translation Project on Twitter: @CaribTranslate.
