2026-10-09
TRANSLATION CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT
TRANSLATION CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT
Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University
Faculty of Humanities
Translation Department
Ala-Too Literary and Art Journal
National Writers' Union of Kyrgyzstan
The Department of Translation and Interpreting and the Ala-Too journal announce the "Best Translator of the Year – 2027" contest for students of translation departments at higher education institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The contest aims to test the abilities and knowledge of young translators through the translation of texts of various genres into Turkish, Russian, and English, and from these languages into Kyrgyz; to identify the best translators; and to guide them toward their future profession. It also seeks to contribute, through excellent translations into Kyrgyz and other languages, to cultivating aesthetic taste, promoting history and culture, and educating the younger generation.
Works in the following genres, on various topics, are offered for translation:
1. Prose: a short story or novella of 40–80 pages (in the book format of the original).
2. Poetry: a long poem or a cycle of poems by a single author, not exceeding 10–20 pages (in the book format of the original).
3. Journalism: an article on culture, literature, history, or language, not exceeding 15–20 pages (15 pages in the book format of the original, or 1 page in newspaper format).
The works to be translated are selected by a specially appointed panel. The criteria are set by the members of the panel formed for each language.
Terms of Participation and Evaluation Procedure
1. The contest is open only to students of translation departments at higher education institutions in Kyrgyzstan.
2. Each student may choose only one work and translate it into only one language. For example, a work chosen in Turkish may be translated into Kyrgyz, Russian, or English (only one of the three).
3. Participants must submit their materials (translations) to the evaluation panel by March 20, 2027.
4. The contest will be held in two rounds. The results of the first round will be announced on March 25, 2027, and those of the second round on March 30, 2027.
Winners will receive prizes and certificates. Selected translations will be published in literary journals such as Ala-Too (Kyrgyzstan) and Kardeş Kalemler (Turkiye) and made available to a wide readership online.
For questions about the contest, please contact Kaliya Kulaliyeva (Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Faculty of Communication, Room 501) or Muhittin Gümüş (Faculty of Communication, Room 103). For information: +996 557 70 93 50; muhittin.gumus@manas.edu.kg
Organizing Committee
08.10.2026
