The representation of agents of translation in (South) Africa

Encountering Gentzler and Madonella

Kobus Marais

This article discusses agency in translation as conceptualized in recent developments in Translation Studies. As a subtext, it poses the representation of its own data as a methodological problem. The article discusses Donald Strachan as a possible agent of translation, probing the implications of his interpreting and translation work in a border setting in South Africa in the late 1800s. It then juxtaposes this perspective with the translation theory of Edwin Gentzler, who claims that translators are creating cultures by way of their work. From this encounter, the author suggests a number of implications for researching translation in Africa. The paper ends by reflecting on its own subtext.

Keywords: agency in translation, methodology, representation, translation theory

Published online: 21 November 2011
https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.6.2.05mar

Cited by

Cited by 2 other publications

Marais, Kobus

2011. Can Tymoczko be translated into Africa? Refractions of research methodology in translation studies in African contexts. Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies 29:3 ► pp. 373 ff.

van Rooyen, Marlie

2013. Structure and agency in news translation: An application of Anthony Giddens’ structuration theory. Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies 31:4 ► pp. 495 ff.

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