Reflections on Translation Theory

Selected papers 1993 - 2014

Andrew Chesterman | University of Helsinki

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ISBN 9789027258786 | EUR 99.00 | USD 149.00

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ISBN 9789027258793 | EUR 36.00 | USD 54.00

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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!

[Benjamins Translation Library, 132] 2017. x, 396 pp.

Publishing status: Available
Published online on 13 April 2017

https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.132

Table of Contents

Preface | pp. ix–x

Section I. Some general issues

Paper 1. On the idea of a theory | pp. 3–16

Paper 2. Shared ground in Translation Studies | pp. 17–24

Paper 3. What constitutes “progress” in Translation Studies? | pp. 25–33

Paper 4. Towards consilience? | pp. 35–41

Section II. Descriptive and prescriptive

Paper 5. The empirical status of prescriptivism | pp. 45–54

Paper 6. Skopos theory: A retrospective assessment | pp. 55–70

Paper 7. Catford revisited | pp. 71–79

Paper 8. The descriptive paradox, or how theory can affect practice | pp. 81–93

Section III. Causality and explanation

Paper 9. Causes, translations, effects | pp. 97–121

Paper 10. A causal model for Translation Studies | pp. 123–135

Paper 11. Semiotic modalities in translation causality | pp. 137–146

Paper 12. On explanation | pp. 147–164

Section IV. Norms

Paper 13. From ‘is’ to ‘ought’: Laws, norms and strategies in Translation Studies | pp. 167–183

Paper 14. A note on norms and evidence | pp. 185–191

Section V. Similarities and differences

Paper 15. On similarity | pp. 195–199

Paper 16. Problems with strategies | pp. 201–211

Paper 17. The unbearable lightness of English words | pp. 213–221

Section VI. Hypotheses

Paper 18. The status of interpretive hypotheses | pp. 225–236

Paper 19. Reflections on the literal translation hypothesis | pp. 237–249

Section VII. “Universals”

Paper 20. Beyond the particular | pp. 253–267

Paper 21. What is a unique item? | pp. 269–279

Paper 22. Kundera’s sentence | pp. 281–294

Paper 23. Universalism in Translation Studies | pp. 295–303

Section VIII. The sociological turn

Paper 24. Questions in the sociology of translation | pp. 307–321

Paper 25. The name and nature of Translator Studies | pp. 323–329

Paper 26. Models of what processes? | pp. 331–343

Section IX. Translation ethics

Paper 27. Proposal for a Hieronymic Oath | pp. 347–361

Paper 28. An ethical decision | pp. 363–368

“This collection of papers brings together more than two decades of writings on translation by one of the leading international Translation Studies experts. The selection reflects the trajectory of Andrew Chesterman’s thinking about the phenomenon of translation, with special emphasis on conceptual analysis and research methodology. He writes about translation theory, hypotheses, norms, causality, explanation and translation ethics in a thoughtful and intellectually stimulating manner. This book is essential reading for scholars and postgraduate students of translation alike.”

Christina Schäffner, Aston University

“Two decades of the best recent thinking about translation theory and its fundamental concepts. A superb achievement.”

Arnt Lykke Jakobsen, Copenhagen Business School

“ Reflections on Translation Theory ultimately demonstrates the significance of Chesterman’s work to translation theory. He offers an important, questioning voice in the discipline that does not allow anything to be taken for granted. His writing is refreshingly clear, but he is not afraid of complexity when it is necessary. While his style might be relatively straightforward and easy to read, the ideas he grapples with can be quite large and imposing. There is much to learn from reading Chesterman’s work, even if we disagree with it: even then, he points out ways in which we can develop our thinking about translation.”

Jonathan Evans, University of Portsmouth, in Target 30:1 (2018)

“The volume is logically structured and orderly. The collection indeed inspires and will inspire critical and in-depth thinking. The author does not impose anything on the readers, but constantly keeps them informed of why a particular definition, for example, is preferred and alerts readers of potential weaknesses in his own thinking as well as in the thinking of those who have influenced his ideas about translation. The volume is definitely a valuable and precious contribution to the translation studies literature, which will inspire generations of researchers.”

Elena Gheorghita, Moldova State University, on Linguist List 29.2612

“Chesterman’s new book is valuable and a timely contribution to the field of Translation Studies. The paradox of fragmentation and shared ground will never cease existing as interdisciplinarity expands the research territory of TS while unification consolidates the foundation of the field. With a critical review over what has been achieved in TS, the book is a must-read not only for translation scholars, but also for translators as well as those who are interested in Translation Studies.”

Pan Hanting and Wang Yuechen, Sun Yat-sen University / Nanyang Technological University, in Babel 64:2 (2018)

Cited by (39)

Cited by 39 other publications

Order by:

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2024. Deep Learning-based Fuzzy Translation Problem in Chinese-English Epidemic News Reporting. Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences 9:1

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2024. Interdisciplinary Investigations at the Intersection of Philosophy and Translation Studies. Między Oryginałem a Przekładem 30:1/63 ► pp. 9 ff.

Mossop, Brian

2024. Could research help revisers?. Perspectives 32:2 ► pp. 319 ff.

Rogl, Regina

2024. The rules of the game: on the interplay between normative ideas and technology in an online amateur translation community. The Translator 30:1 ► pp. 111 ff.

Siu, Sai Yau

2024. Conclusion. In The Evolution of Team-Based Buddhist Scripture Translation in Tang China [SpringerBriefs in Religious Studies, ], ► pp. 71 ff.

Siu, Sai Yau

2024. Introduction. In The Evolution of Team-Based Buddhist Scripture Translation in Tang China [SpringerBriefs in Religious Studies, ], ► pp. 1 ff.

Xu, Cui & Dechao Li

2024. More spoken or more translated?. Target. International Journal of Translation Studies 36:3 ► pp. 445 ff.

杨, 加伟

2024. Research on Gideon Toury’s Translation Theoretical System—Issues, Significance, and Prospects. Modern Linguistics 12:06 ► pp. 559 ff.

DEMİREKİN, Murat

2023. Dilbilimsel karşılaştırma metodu ile çeviride eşdeğerlik sorunları: Çağrı filmi örneği. RumeliDE Dil ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi :Ö12 ► pp. 680 ff.

DEMİREKİN, Murat

2023. ÇEVİRİ SORUNLARI VE “MARTI” ROMANI ÖRNEĞİ. Asya Studies 7:25 ► pp. 129 ff.

Halimi, Sonia Asmahène

2023. Translation in pre-trial phases of the judicial process: developing a norm-based framework to train translators working into Arabic. International Journal of Legal Discourse 8:1 ► pp. 53 ff.

Huddleson, Richard

2023. Translating transgender lives: bringing La pell escrita to Belfast. Perspectives 31:2 ► pp. 250 ff.

Ito, Kinji

2023. Translation in Flux: Revisiting the Past, Envisioning the Future. East-West Cultural Passage 23:2 ► pp. 11 ff.

Rędzioch-Korkuz, Anna

2023. Revisiting the concepts of translation studies: equivalence in linguistic translation from the point of view of Peircean universal categories. Language and Semiotic Studies 9:1 ► pp. 33 ff.

Aguirre Fernández Bravo, Elena

2022. Indirect interpreting: Stumbling block or stepping stone?. Target. International Journal of Translation Studies 34:3 ► pp. 512 ff.

Amaral Peixoto Martins, Marcia

2022. A lírica shakespeariana em tradução: The rape of Lucrece em português brasileiro. Revista Graphos 24:1 ► pp. 119 ff.

Assis, Roberto Carlos de & Germana Henriques Pereira

2022. Os Estudos da Tradução Literária no Brasil: história, teoria e crítica. Revista Graphos 24:1 ► pp. 5 ff.

Eke, Joseph N.

2022. Representation of African Cultural Knowledge and Identity in Versions of German-Translated Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe—A Critical Intercultural Communication Analysis. TTR : traduction, terminologie, rédaction 35:1 ► pp. 35 ff.

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2022. ÇEVİRİ OLGUSU VE GÖZLEMLENEBİLİR NESNE SENTEZİ. Mersin Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 5:2 ► pp. 30 ff.

Liu, Chao-Chun

2022. Towards a Theoretical Framework for a Systematic Study of Theological Influence in Bible Translation. Journal of Translation 18:1 ► pp. 67 ff.

Marais, Kobus

2022. Semiotic agency: science beyond mechanism. The Translator 28:3 ► pp. 366 ff.

Marais, Kobus

2023. Translating constraints. Translation Studies 16:2 ► pp. 178 ff.

Moindjie, Mohamed Abdou

2022. Norms of Substitution in Translation: A French–English Case Study. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities 30:3 ► pp. 1147 ff.

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2022. What can research on indirect translation do for Translation Studies?. Target. International Journal of Translation Studies 34:3 ► pp. 349 ff.

Tan, Ian

2022. Ereignis and the Grounding of Interpretation: Toward a Heideggerian Reading of Translation and Translatability as Appropriative Event. Comparative and Continental Philosophy 14:3 ► pp. 255 ff.

Xavier, Catarina

2022. On norms and taboo. Target. International Journal of Translation Studies 34:1 ► pp. 67 ff.

Zhao, Junfeng, Yan Dong & Yang Li

2022. A Study on Translation Strategies of Chronicle of a Blood Merchant from the Perspective of Translation Ethics. In Chinese Literature in the World [New Frontiers in Translation Studies, ], ► pp. 175 ff.

López-Alcalá, Samuel

2021. Issues of explanation in translation history: An example from US–Mexican religious historiography. Translation Studies 14:1 ► pp. 51 ff.

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2021. Qué, quién, dónde, cuándo, por qué y cómo: las retraducciones de Moby-Dick en España. Meta: Journal des traducteurs 66:3 ► pp. 714 ff.

Ortiz García, Javier

2021. “All the pieces matter”. Babel. Revue internationale de la traduction / International Journal of Translation 67:5 ► pp. 646 ff.

Ortiz García, Javier

2023. La retraducción como práctica arqueológica. Babel. Revue internationale de la traduction / International Journal of Translation / Revista Internacional de Traducción 69:6 ► pp. 766 ff.

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2021. Adapt or Perish: How Forced Transition to Remote Simultaneous Interpreting during the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Interpreters’ Professional Practices. Między Oryginałem a Przekładem 27:4(54) ► pp. 137 ff.

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2021. FEATURES OF THE RECREATION OF W. D. HOWELLS’ NOVEL “THE RISE OF SILAS LAPHAM" IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE. Bulletin of the Moscow State Regional University (Linguistics) :3 ► pp. 89 ff.

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2021. Exploring Bohdan Lepky’s Translation Ethics Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count. East European Journal of Psycholinguistics 8:2

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2020. A history of modern translation knowledge: sources, concepts and effect. Language & History 63:3 ► pp. 233 ff.

Heltai, Pál

2019. Stefan Baumgarten, Jordi Cornellà-Detrell (eds). Across Languages and Cultures 20:2 ► pp. 281 ff.

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 11 january 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Subjects

Translation & Interpreting Studies

Translation Studies

Main BIC Subject

CFP: Translation & interpretation

Main BISAC Subject

LAN023000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Translating & Interpreting

ONIX Metadata

ONIX 2.1

ONIX 3.0

U.S. Library of Congress Control Number: 2017001379 | Marc record