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Article published In: Translation in Society
Vol. 3:2 (2024) ► pp.236–254

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Academic translations

On the construction of translation cultures

 | University of Graz
Translated by
 | University of Graz
ORCiD logo with link | University of Graz
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Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

Open Access publication of this article was funded through a Transformative Agreement with University of Graz.

Published online: 6 September 2024
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https://doi.org/10.1075/tris.24019.pru
Abstract
The paper by Erich Prunč introduces and develops the concept of translationskultur, a concept that captures cultural and social aspects of translation. Expanding beyond the narrow traditional views of equivalence and text oriented approaches that were dominant in translation studies when Prunč developed the concept, Prunč presents translation as a critical practice not only in mediating between languages but also as an essential act of transcultural communication.
The concept of translationskultur is theorized as a self-referential, self-regulating subsystem of culture, characterized by a set of socially established norms and behaviors shared by individuals involved in translation. Prunč emphasizes the complexity of translation cultures, which arise from the delicate compromises among all stakeholders engaged in or affected by the translation process, including translators, authors, and recipients. Translation cultures are shaped by power dynamics within the field, and factors like societal status and resource allocation contribute to the establishment of hierarchies relevant for translation practices.
By introducing this concept, Prunč moreover aims to encourage a conscientious reflection on the roles and responsibilities of translators and interpreters, their loyalties towards themselves, and advocates for more confident and self-critical agents acting towards ideals of a prototypical democratic translation culture. The paper concludes with the vision of translators and interpreters who are aware of their significant role in shaping discourses and who exercise their power with a sense of professional pride and ethical diligence.
Article outline
  • 1.Conceptualizing translation
  • 2.Understanding translation on the grounds of cultural sociology
  • 3.Translationskultur
  • 4.Translation and power
  • 5.Democratic translation culture
    • 5.1The principle of cooperativity
    • 5.2The principle of loyalty
    • 5.3The principle of transparency
    • 5.4The principle of ecologicity
  • 6.Translationskultur and Skopos
  • 7.Quality of translations
  • 8.Translation studies and translation practice
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (45)
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