Reflections on translation theory : selected papers 1993-2014 / Andrew Chesterman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chesterman, Andrew, author.

Contributor:

Chesterman, Andrew, editor.

Series:

Benjamins translation library ; Volume 132.

Benjamins Translation Library, 0929-7316 ; Volume 132

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Translating and interpreting.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (408 pages).

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam, [Netherlands] ; Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania] : John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2017.

Summary:

Originally published in different journals and collected volumes, these papers in conceptual analysis cover some central topics in translation theory and research: types of theory and hypothesis; causality and explanation; norms, strategies and so-called universals; translation sociology, and ethics. There are critical reviews of Catford’s theory, and of Skopos theory, and of Kundera’s views on literary translation, and detailed analyses of the literal translation hypothesis and the unique items hypothesis. The methodological discussions, which draw on work in the philosophy of science, will be of special relevance to younger researchers, for example those starting work on a doctorate. Some of the arguments and positions defended – for instance on the significant status of conceptual, interpretive hypotheses, and the ideal of consilience – relate to wider ongoing debates, and will interest any scholar who is concerned about the increasing fragmentation of the field and about the future of Translation Studies. Let the dialogue continue!

Contents:

Prelim pages

Table of contents

Preface

Section I. Some general issues

Paper 1. On the idea of a theory

Paper 2. Shared ground in Translation Studies

Paper 3. What constitutes “progress” in Translation Studies?

Paper 4. Towards consilience?

Section II. Descriptive and prescriptive

Paper 5. The empirical status of prescriptivism

Paper 6. Skopos theory

Paper 7. Catford revisited

Paper 8. The descriptive paradox, or how theory can affect practice

Section III. Causality and explanation

Paper 9. Causes, translations, effects

Paper 10. A causal model for Translation Studies

Paper 11. Semiotic modalities in translation causality

Paper 12. On explanation

Section IV. Norms

Paper 13. From ‘is’ to ‘ought’

Paper 14. A note on norms and evidence

Section V. Similarities and differences

Paper 15. On similarity

Paper 16. Problems with strategies

Paper 17. The unbearable lightness of English words

Section VI. Hypotheses

Paper 18. The status of interpretive hypotheses

Paper 19. Reflections on the literal translation hypothesis

Section VII. “Universals”

Paper 20. Beyond the particular

Paper 21. What is a unique item?

Paper 22. Kundera’s sentence

Paper 23. Universalism in Translation Studies

Section VIII. The sociological turn

Paper 24. Questions in the sociology of translation

Paper 25. The name and nature of Translator Studies

Paper 26. Models of what processes?

Section IX. Translation ethics

Paper 27. Proposal for a Hieronymic Oath

Paper 28. An ethical decision

References

Name index

Subject index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9789027258786

9789027265760 (ebook)