Translating Climate Change

WHAT IS TRACC?

SOCIAL SCIENTISTS HAVE REPORTED WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE MEANS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE AND HOW THE SCIENTIFIC TERM HAS BEEN TRANSLATED. WHILE IN MANY LANGUAGES THE LOCAL TERM REFERS TO UNUSUAL WEATHER PATTERNS, IN OTHERS IT MEANS "THE FACT, THAT WINDS AND THE RAIN ARE CHANGING" (KHOEKHOEGOWAB) OR "THE CHANGE OF THE CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY" (SWAHILI).

 The first aim of TraCC is to document the various meanings of climate change by following its translations into the world’s languages and cultures. Its second aim is to study possible variations and to explore how they link to climate change mitigation and adaptation. For so doing, TraCC brings together the expertise of lay people and scientists to develop a decentralized and interactive ethnographic account.

In order to become a member of TraCC, enter and explain the translation of climate change in “your” language. As the database develops, TraCC becomes a public showcase for an innovative and interactive way to collect knowledge about one of the world’s most salient global challenges – climate change.

Help us and join the community!

We would like to invite lay people as well as scientists to become a member of TraCC. With your contribution, TraCC will develop into an interactive online community that brings together experts from the fields of culture, language, and climate change.

As a member of TraCC, you will become a visible expert for a specific culture and/or language including the opportunity to link additional information about you and your interests in climate change. Furthermore, you get access to the data collected and have the right to use it for academic and non-profit purposes.

To register for an account and give your contribution, go on: http://www.tracc.cc/

If you have any questions, troubles, or suggestions to improve TraCC, please do not hesitate to contact Thomas (thomas.friedrich@uni-hamburg.de) or Michael (michael.schnegg@uni-hamburg.de).