John Benjamins Publishing Company
The sociology of translation and its “activist turn”
Abstract
The last few years have seen a great increase in works on what has been labeled a “sociological turn” in translation studies. This turn has particularly taught us to sharpen our “sociological eye” on the various agencies and agents involved in any translation procedure, and more specifically in the textual factors operating in the translation process. In this paper I will discuss the conditions underlying the “sociological turn” and examine both its limitations and its potential, with particular attention to the translator’s habitus as elaborated in sociology and in translation studies. My focus will be on the political factors which in recent years have contributed to molding the habitus, not least in the domain of “translation and activism,” where new codes of reference have been created for translatorial activity that also pose searching questions for Western concepts of translation and their social implications, ultimately triggering what might be called an “activist turn.”
Abstract
The last few years have seen a great increase in works on what has been labeled a “sociological turn” in translation studies. This turn has particularly taught us to sharpen our “sociological eye” on the various agencies and agents involved in any translation procedure, and more specifically in the textual factors operating in the translation process. In this paper I will discuss the conditions underlying the “sociological turn” and examine both its limitations and its potential, with particular attention to the translator’s habitus as elaborated in sociology and in translation studies. My focus will be on the political factors which in recent years have contributed to molding the habitus, not least in the domain of “translation and activism,” where new codes of reference have been created for translatorial activity that also pose searching questions for Western concepts of translation and their social implications, ultimately triggering what might be called an “activist turn.”
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Introduction
- The sociological turn in translation and interpreting studies 1
-
Articles
- The sociology of translation and its “activist turn” 7
- Political dissidents as translators, editors, and publishers 23
- “The sheikh of the translators” 41
- The Art of War in retranslating Sun Tzu 57
- Italy’s other Mafia 73
- Translators in international organizations 93
- Power in face-to-face interpreting events 115
-
Articles
- Notes on contributors 135
- Index 139
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Introduction
- The sociological turn in translation and interpreting studies 1
-
Articles
- The sociology of translation and its “activist turn” 7
- Political dissidents as translators, editors, and publishers 23
- “The sheikh of the translators” 41
- The Art of War in retranslating Sun Tzu 57
- Italy’s other Mafia 73
- Translators in international organizations 93
- Power in face-to-face interpreting events 115
-
Articles
- Notes on contributors 135
- Index 139
