System Theories

Key concepts :

-  Even-Zohar's polysystem theory (1970s) sees translated literature as part of the
cultural, literary and historical system of the TL.

- Toury (1 995) puts forward a methodology for descriptive translation studies
(DTS) as a non-prescriptive means of understanding the 'norms' at work in the
translation process and of discovering the general 'laws' of translation.

- In DTS, equivalence is functional-historical and related to the continuum of
'acceptability' and 'adequacy'.

- Other systems approaches include the Manipulation School.




Key texts :
 
  -  Chesterman, A. (1997) Memes of Translation, Amsterdam and Philadelphia, PA: John
Benjamins, chapter 3.
 - Even-Zohar, 1. (197812000) 'The position of translated literature within the literary
 - polysystem', in L. Venuti (ed.) (2000). pp. 192-7.
 - Gentzler, E. (1 993) Contemporary Translotion Theories, London and New York: Routledge,
chapter 5.
 - Hermans, T. (ed.) (1 985a) The Monipulotion of Literature, Beckenham: Croom Helm.
 - Hermans, T. (1999) Translation in Systems, Manchester: St Jerome. chapters 6 to 8.
Toury, G. (197812000) 'The nature and role of norms in literary translation', in L. Venuti
(ed.) (2000), pp. 198-2 l I.
Toury, G. (1 995) Descriptive Translation Studies - And Beyond, Amsterdam and Philadelphia,
PA: John Benjamins.