French Embassy joins book expo

JAKARTA (JP): The French Embassy is participating for a third consecutive year in the annual nine-day Indonesian Book Fair, held by the Indonesian Publishers Association (Ikapi) starting on Saturday at Istora Senayan sport hall in Central Jakarta.

The embassy said in a statement on Friday that books on display at its stand would be representative of French publications, including classical and contemporary literature, art, comics, human sciences, French language study manuals and picture books.

Gramedia publications of French works translated into Indonesian will also be on offer, including several texts written by authors close to the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient (Far Eastern French School), the statement said.

They include Nusa Jawa Silang Budaya (Le Carrefour Javanais) by Denys Lombard, published two years ago, and Komik Indonesia (La Bande Dessinee Indonesienne) by Marcel Bonneff, which was recently released and will be presented by the translator, Mrs. Rahayu Hidayat.

CD-ROMs covering different themes ranging from tourism, cultural heritage and sports to Asterix will also be on exhibit.

A debate on translation problems encountered in film dubbing will be held featuring Stephane Lamouroux, a French specialist currently in Indonesia to attend a seminar on translation training sponsored by the embassy. (hhr)