Sampsa Peltonen
Sampsa Peltonen (born 1975) is a Finnish translator and literary critic. He has translated works of literature, TV programmes and non-fiction, from Arabic and French into Finnish, and occasionally also has been working as a simultaneous interpreter.[1] Peltonen has translated works by Hassan Blasim, Leïla Slimani, Adania Shibli and Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, among others.
Peltonen has advocated multilingualism and translation, stressing their importance in understanding difference and emphasising that "our view of the world will shrink if the sources of the texts that surround us become fewer and less diverse. One of the best ways to get to know others is to get to know the texts they produce."[1]
Awards and recognition
Peltonen was awarded the WSOY Literary Foundation's 2014 Recognition Award for his translation of contemporary Arabic fiction.[2] Together with fellow translator Marja Luoman he received the Mikael Agricola Prize and the Kaarle Prize[3] in 2023 for their translation of Mohamed Mbougar Sarr's novel The Deepest Secrets of Men.[4][5]
Peltonen has been part of the panel of judges for the 2025 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF).[6] In an interview with ArabLit magazine, he discussed how his background as a translator informs his approach to the judging process, and why the diversity of the IPAF shortlist is an example of the richness of contemporary Arabic literature. [7]
References
- ^ a b Peltonen, Sampsa (2019). "Kielitaito monipuolistaa ajattelua" [Language skills diversify thinking]. Kielikello (in Finnish). Retrieved 2025-04-10.
- ^ "WSOY:n kirjallisuussäätiön tunnustuspalkinnot jaettu - palkittujen joukossa 3 kirjallisuuden kääntäjää" [WSOY Literary Foundation's recognition awards given - 3 literary translators among the winners]. sktl.fi. 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
- ^ "Kaarlen palkinnot Ann-Christin Antellille, Marttaliitolle, Marja Luomalle ja Sampsa Peltoselle" [Charles Awards to Ann-Christin Antell, Marttaliitto, Marja Luoma and Sampsa Peltonen]. stt.fi. 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
- ^ Rinta-Tassi, Minna (2023-03-23). "Suomen merkittävimmät käännöspalkinnot jaettiin kolmelle kauniin suomen kielen taitajalle" [Finland's most prestigious translation prizes were awarded to three masters of the beautiful Finnish language]. yle.fi. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
- ^ Starkman, Virpi (2023-03-30). "Sastamalalaislähtöinen Sampsa Peltonen sai merkittävän käännöspalkinnon" [Sastamala-based Sampsa Peltonen wins major translation prize]. aamulehti.fi. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
- ^ "Weekly Dispatches From the Frontlines of World Literature - Asymptote Blog". asymptotejournal.com. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
- ^ "From the IPAF Shortlist to the Final Six". ARABLIT & ARABLIT QUARTERLY. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-04-10.