Interdisciplinarity in Translation and Interpreting Process Research

First published as a special issue of Target (issue 25:1, 2013), this volume explores interdisciplinarity in translation and interpreting process research, fields that have enjoyed a boom in the last decade. For this reason, the time was ripe for a reflection on the broad range of methodologies that have been applied in our endeavours to understand both translation and interpreting processes better. The ten chapters provide a snapshot of how translation and interpreting process researchers have availed themselves of concepts and theories developed in other disciplines, such as psychology, the cognitive sciences, journalism, and literary studies, to examine and illuminate their object of study. This collection demonstrates that translation and interpreting process research borrow heavily from other disciplines and call for a consideration of how translation research can become truly interdisciplinary through increased collaboration, synergy, and mutual advancement.

Gregory Shreve, Kent State University:
Interdisciplinarity strives to create new knowledge by integrating elements from different disciplines --methods, models, concepts-- in the service of a broader and more complete understanding of the complex phenomena scientists study. Interdisciplinarity also should act to challenge the "borders" of disciplines, to help scholars understand that complex phenomena like translation and interpreting can only be understood by moving deliberately into the space at the juncture of multiple disciplines. These noble goals are often touted, but not often achieved. This book, Interdisciplinarity in Translation and Interpreting Process Research, is a true and successful effort in interdisciplinarity. It successfully combines insights from cognitive science, psychology, sociology, neuro-linguistics, bilingualism and other fields to explore and, more importantly, expand the disciplinary boundaries of Translation Studies.