Interpreting in the Ottoman Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries: The Transition of Interpreting Activity from Jewish to Phanariot Families

The Ottoman Empire encompassed a culturally and linguistically diverse region and therefore had a considerable need for translation. This led to intensive translation activities, which, however, often remained in the background of scholarly studies, which focused mainly on the historical and political aspects of the empire. This study sheds light on the translation process in the Ottoman Empire and examines how translation activities were transferred from Jewish to phanariot translators. Aspects such as the so-called millet sistemi (nation system), the multi-ethnic organisation of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries, and important Jewish interpreters and translators are considered. The Jewish translators who became important during this period will be presented in the context of translator studies. Emphasis is placed on the transitional process by which responsibility for translation passed from Jewish translators to Phanariot translators. This transition will be considered in the wider context of multiculturalism and translation activity. Overall, the study aims to better understand the role of translators and translation practices in a multicultural and multilingual society during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in the Ottoman Empire and to shed light on the development of translation activity during this period.