TRANSLATION STUDIES

UNIT 1: An Introduction to Translation Theory

1. Define the term translation.
This term can have several meanings; it can refer to the subject field, the product or the process. The
process of translation can be defined as the action of changing an original written text (source text,
ST) in the original verbal language (source language, SL) into a written text (target text, TT) in a
different verbal language (target language, TL).
2. The development of translation studies has gone through different approaches along history.
Attach the following terms to the dates when each one of them took a special relevance: language
learning, translation workshop, comparative literature, contrastive analysis. Then, give a brief
explanation of how each concept is related to translation studies.
Until 1960: Language Learning
1960-1970: Translation Workshops and Comparative Literature
1960-1980: Contrastive Analysis
Language Learning: Translation used to be regarded as a mere method to learn a second language.
Translation Workshops: Translation was promoted in the USA through these workshops which
served as a platform to introduce new translations into the target culture and to discuss the finer
principles of the translation process and of understanding texts.
Comparative Literature: This approach involved studying and comparing literature from different
nations and cultures. Translation was, then, needed to access to texts originally written in diverse
languages.
Contrastive Analysis: This comparative study of two languages aimed to spot general and specific
dissimilarities between them. Much of the data in these studies was provided by translations.
3. In the summary of the unit, we read: (...) The discipline as we now know it owes much to the
work of James S. Holmes. Describe his role in the development of the subject of translation
studies.
Holmess paper The name and nature of translation studies has been generally regarded as the
foundation of the field. He proposed a framework for translation studies as a distinct discipline
without the limitations imposed so far by the existing disciplines, but taking into consideration
research and expertise from different fields related to translation. His explanations were presented
later by Toury in what has been known as Holmess map. Translation studies are divided into pure
and applied areas. The pure areas objectives are descriptive (a description of the phenomena) and
theoretical (the establishment of general principles to explain and predict such phenomena). The
applied areas are relevant for translator training (providing methods, techniques, etc), translation
aids (such as dictionaries, grammars, etc.), and translation criticism (evaluation and review of
translations).
4. Holmess role was crucial in the delineation of translation studies. His map is still used as a point
of departure. What omissions, though, can be signalled according to other experts?
Nowadays, the restrictions related to descriptive and theoretical branches might include a discoursetype as well as a text-type. Other scholars would discuss the need to include interpretation as a subcategory of human translation while others would consider it a parallel but distinct field, with a
different name Interpreting studies. According to Pym, Holmess map lacks any reference to the
individual style, the processes of decision-making and the working practices of translators.
5. Discuss the interdisciplinary nature of translation studies.
Since the 1970s, and under the influence of Holmess map, translation studies started a process that
would lead this science to become interdisciplinary. Along the years, some of its trends and concepts

TRANSLATION STUDIES

have been rejected, while others have emerged with force. Amongst the most influential ideas were
contrastive analysis, the view of language as a communicative act in a sociocultural context, the
polysistemic theory, and the culturally oriented approach that has continued up to our time.
Interdisciplinarity is not an easy concept to define as it exists in the interstices of the existing fields
(McCarty 1999). It challenges the conventional way of thinking by establishing and promoting new
avenues where different types of knowledge and technologies converge. As we have already stated,
the relation of translation studies with other disciplines is not fixed; rather, it has shifted over the
years constantly. Analysing translation studies from a systemic point of view, McCarthy points out
that conventional disciplines have either a primary or a secondary relationship with a new
interdiscipline. Among the fields that have a primary relationship with translation, we can find
linguistics, modern languages and languages studies, comparative literature, cultural studies,
philosophy, sociology, and history. Other fields of study that could be included within the
secondary relationship deal with the area of applied translation studies, which focus on translator
training and translation aids. In this specific area of translator training, additional instruction can be
required according to the specific texts the trainees will be working on, such us finance, law,
medicine, science, etc., as well as in CAT (computer-assisted translation).
In view of the facts, the professional translator must be a person with a vast amount of knowledge
that is keen on improving his ability to analyse and scrutinise, and open to new approaches in this
interdisciplinary field.