Sociocultural Aspects of Translating and Interpreting

Translation Studies has recently been searching for connections with Cultural Studies and Sociology. This volume brings together a range of ways in which the disciplines can be related, particularly with respect to research methodologies. The key aspects covered are the agents behind translation, the social histories revealed by translations, the perceived roles and values of translators in social contexts, the hidden power relations structuring publication contexts, and the need to review basic concepts of the way social and cultural systems work. Special importance is placed on Community Interpreting as a field of social complexity, the lessons of which can be applied in many other areas. The volume studies translators and interpreters working in a wide range of contexts, ranging from censorship in East Germany to English translations in Gujarat. Major contributions are made by Agnès Whitfield, Daniel Gagnon, Franz Pöchhacker, Michaela Wolf, Pekka Kujamäki and Rita Kothari, with an extensive introduction on methodology by Anthony Pym.

Nike K. Pokorn, Ljubljana, in Target Vol. 21:2 (2009):
Sociocultural Aspects offers a valuable insight into trends in translation and interpreting studies, in particular by emphasising community interpreting and therefore indicating that IS is nowadays in many respects at the forefront of translatological research. With its fine range of informative and argumentative articles, Sociocultural Aspects is a versatile and useful collection that provides provocative and interesting reading.