From the TLC list:
I am very excited to announce the publication of the quite monumental “Recherches nouvelles sur le Laos” (New Research on Laos) edited by Yves Goudineau and Michael Lorrillard (Paris and Vientiane: L’École française d’Extrême-Orient, 2008). It has about 29 articles (some in French and some in English) covering many aspects of Lao Studies from archaeology to anthropology to religious studies to history to art (as well as some on politics and development). This major book has been in development for 5 years and is essential to anyone interested in Laos or the history of mainland Southeast Asia in general. It is available from EFEO. Please recommend your libraries to order it or pick it up for yourselves!
Here is the table of contents. Make sure you bookmark page 183!
6 responses so far ↓
1 Tony Loader // Aug 26, 2008 at 7:19 am
Too bad those of us English speakers who can’t read French (and likewise French speakers who can’t read English) won’t be able to read the entire volume – given that it took 5 years in preparation.
2 pu suk vao // Aug 26, 2008 at 5:54 pm
The only problem is that it isn’t actually available yet. EFEO don’t have any copies yet. My premature search has been especially frustrating.
3 jonfernquest // Aug 27, 2008 at 1:27 am
“The only problem is that it isn’t actually available yet. EFEO don’t have any copies yet. My premature search has been especially frustrating.”
EFEO has copies. I saw one on last Monday.
So it can’t be very far from being released.
Waiting in eager anticipation.
4 Roy // Aug 31, 2008 at 2:50 am
Looking forward to this indeed. Further to the first comment, the real issue of course is whether there will be a Lao language version.
5 jonfernquest // Aug 31, 2008 at 3:05 pm
“Looking forward to this indeed. Further to the first comment, the real issue of course is whether there will be a Lao language version.”
I’ve seen collections of papers in French that have done this in the past in the Siam Society library.
The real problem is probably the availability and budget for skilled translators.
Translation is an extremely valuable value-adding activity, yet is not usually adequately rewarded. I’ve heard of translators that have given up because there was no reward either financially or name-recognition-wise.
Good reason for a special permanent “designated translator’ position, instead of outsourcing it, as always seems to be done in organisations.
More academic recognition for translation work, especially of primary sources, would probably lead to more people producing higher quality translations. (I, for one, value a thorough annotated translation, rather than more second or third hand ruminations on a source that is not available to people with the proper linguistic skills.)
6 Dr Tim Rackett // Jul 19, 2009 at 1:03 pm
For English analysis readers may wish to refer to the superb ‘Laos: An Indicative Fact Book’ © Lao Insight Books –Robert Cooper-only available in Laos at the moment!- June 2009 whose self-stated aim is to bring Laos to the world and vice versa, while encouraging a nascent publishing and printing industry (all money earned by the book remain in Laos and benefits the development of the country and people.
It does an admirable job, a perceptive concise conspectus, outdoing CIA versions of facts, in presenting the salient issues, problems and possibilities of contemporary Laos As the first fact book ever on Laos it is essential reading for understanding contemporary Laos. It provides a detailed and accessible knowledge of Laos and insightful analysis with a sceptical edge. A comprehensive contents and index make the work a useful reference tool, and figures and facts (noting qualifications) are bang up to date (in some instances 1st quarter 2009), being obtained from many sources and individuals
…review forthcoming
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