As a first approach to the subject under scrutiny in this book, the authors offer here a summary of what has been said and written about "translation into non-mother tongues" (TNMT) in the increasingly extensive literature on Translation Studies. The authors examine firstly the positions of those critical of the practice of TNMT, before moving on to those who are more favourable, and conclude with those publications devoted specifically to TNMT. They note that translation in this direction is becoming increasingly visible in our discipline, after years of being excluded or simply ignored.