Table Of ContentExploring Translation Theories
Exploring Translation Theories presents a comprehensive analysis of the core contempo-
rary paradigms of Western translation theory.
The book covers theories of equivalence, purpose, description, uncertainty, localiza-
tion, and cultural translation. This second edition adds coverage on new translation techno-
logies, volunteer translators, non-lineal logic, mediation, Asian languages, and research on
translators’ cognitive processes. Readers are encouraged to explore the various theories
and consider their strengths, weaknesses, and implications for translation practice. The book
concludes with a survey of the way translation is used as a model in postmodern cultural
studies and sociologies, extending its scope beyond traditional Western notions.
Features in each chapter include:
■ An introduction outlining the main points, key concepts, and illustrative examples.
■ Examples drawn from a range of languages, although knowledge of no language
other than English is assumed.
■ Discussion points and suggested classroom activities.
■ A chapter summary.
This comprehensive and engaging book is ideal both for self-study and as a textbook for
translation theory courses within Translation Studies, Comparative Literature, and Applied
Linguistics.
Anthony Pym is Professor of Translation and Intercultural Studies at the Rovira i Virgili
University, Spain. He is also President of the European Society for Translation Studies, a
fellow of the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, and Visiting Researcher
at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. His publications include The Status of the
Translation Profession in the European Union (2013) and On Translator Ethics (2012).
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Exploring Translation Theories
Second edition
ANTHONY PYM
Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group
LONDON AND NEW YORK
First published 2010, this edition published 2014
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
R outledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2010, 2014 Anthony Pym
The right of Anthony Pym to be identifi ed as author of this work has
been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
T rademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and
explanation without intent to infringe.
B ritish Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
L ibrary of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Pym, Anthony, 1956–
Exploring translation theories / Anthony Pym. – Second Edition.
pages cm
1. Translating and interpreting. I. Title.
P306.P95 2014
418ʹ.02 – dc23
2013022987
ISBN: 978-0-415-83789-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-83791-0 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-85763-3 (ebk)
Typeset in Berthold Akzidenz Grotesk
by Refi neCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk
Contents
L ist of illustrations ix
A cknowledgements xi
P reface xiii
Chapter 1 What is a translation theory? 1
1.1 From theorizing to theories 1
1.2 From theories to paradigms 3
1.3 How this book is organized 3
1.4 Why study translation theories? 4
1.5 How should translation theories be studied? 5
Chapter 2 Natural equivalence 6
2.1 Natural equivalence as a concept 7
2.2 Equivalence vs. structuralism 9
2.3 Procedures for maintaining natural equivalence 11
2.4 Text-b ased equivalence 16
2.5 Reference to a t ertium comparationis and the “theory of sense” 17
2.6 The virtues of natural equivalence 18
2.7 Frequently had arguments 19
2.8 Natural equivalence as a historical sub-p aradigm 20
Chapter 3 Directional equivalence 24
3.1 Two kinds of similarity 26
3.2 Directionality in defi nitions of equivalence 27
3.3 Back- translation as a test 29
3.4 Polarities of directional equivalence 30
3.5 Only two categories? 33
3.6 Relevance theory 34
3.7 Equivalence as an illusion 37
3.8 The virtues of directional equivalence 37
3.9 Frequently had arguments 38
vi CONTENTS
Chapter 4 Purposes 43
4.1 S kopos as the key to a new paradigm 44
4.2 Reiss, Vermeer, and the origins of the S kopos approach 46
4.3 Holz-Mänttäri and the translator’s expertise 49
4.4 Purpose-b ased “good enough” theory 51
4.5 Who really decides? 52
4.6 The virtues of the purpose paradigm 54
4.7 Frequently had arguments 55
4.8 An extension into project analysis 58
Chapter 5 Descriptions 62
5.1 What happened to equivalence? 63
5.2 Theoretical concepts within the descriptive paradigm 63
5.3 Norms 70
5.4 “Assumed” translations 73
5.5 Target- side priority 74
5.6 Universals of translation 75
5.7 Laws 78
5.8 Process studies 79
5.9 Frequently had arguments 80
5.10 The future of the descriptive paradigm 82
Chapter 6 Uncertainty 86
6.1 Why uncertainty? 86
6.2 The uncertainty principle 88
6.3 Determinist views of language with indeterminist theories of translation 91
6.4 Theories of how to live with uncertainty 96
6.5 Deconstruction 105
6.6 So how should we translate? 107
6.7 Frequently had arguments 109
Chapter 7 Localization 117
7.1 Localization as a paradigm 118
7.2 What is localization? 118
7.3 What is internationalization? 120
7.4 Is localization new? 122
7.5 The role of technologies 123
7.6 Translation within localization? 131
7.7 Frequently had arguments 132
7.8 The future of localization 134
Chapter 8 Cultural translation 138
8.1 A new paradigm? 139
8.2 Homi Bhabha and “non-s ubstantive” translation 139
CONTENTS vii
8.3 Translation without translations: calls for a wider discipline 144
8.4 Ethnography as translation 148
8.5 Translation sociology 149
8.6 Spivak and the psychoanalytics of translation 151
8.7 “Generalized translation” 153
8.8 Frequently had arguments 154
Postscript—What if they were all wrong? 159
R eferences 161
I ndex 175
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Illustrations
FIGURES
4.1 T ranslatorial action as a form of mediated cross-c ultural
communication 50
7.1a A very simple model of traditional translation 120
7.1b A simple model of translation plus internationalization 121
7.1c A model of localization 121
7.2 C atalan calendar from Microsoft Windows XP 137
TABLES
2.1 V inay and Darbelnet’s general table of translation solutions 13
2.2 C omparison of translation solution types 15
4.1 R eiss’s correlations of text types and translation methods 47
4.2 M aterial and information in a job description for translators 58
