Before Bassnett’s intervention, translation was often dismissed as a secondary, derivative craft. Translators were viewed as invisible copyists, and their work was judged solely on how accurately it mimicked the source text. Bassnett’s extensive body of work—including her foundational 1980 book Translation Studies —flipped this script. She demonstrated that translation is a primary creative act and a vital engine of cultural evolution. Decoding the "Cultural Turn"
Susan Bassnett reframes translation as a culturally embedded practice rather than a neutral linguistic transfer. Her work foregrounds history, power relations, and literary theory in how translations shape—and are shaped by—culture.
The Cultural Turn introduced several critical concepts to the study of translation history: 1. Translation as Refraction and Rewriting translation history and culture susan bassnett pdf
: Bassnett posits that while translation has a linguistic core, it properly belongs to semiotics—the study of sign systems and functions—incorporating extra-linguistic criteria. Historical and Social Impact
In Susan Bassnett and André Lefevere's seminal work, (1990), they established the "cultural turn" in translation studies, arguing that translation is not a mere linguistic exchange but a complex act of cultural negotiation . Core Concepts and Themes She demonstrated that translation is a primary creative
Bassnett collaborated closely with Lefevere on the concept of translation as "rewriting." Any text that is translated is effectively rewritten for a new audience. This rewriting is governed by factors like:
Historically, the ideal translation was thought to be "invisible"—reading so smoothly that the target audience forgot they were reading a translation at all. Bassnett argued against this invisible status. She advocated for acknowledging the translator as an active creator and a vital cultural mediator who shapes history. 2. Gender and Translation The Cultural Turn introduced several critical concepts to
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.
This example directly illustrates how translators are not merely linguistic conduits, but active agents who can texts to advance a certain ideology or mimic dominant discourses to guarantee acceptance. This perspective fundamentally elevates the status of the translator from a servant to a creator, a powerful figure in the cultural construction of images and ideas.
The essays can be grouped around several core themes:
Lefevere’s concept of "refraction" (or "rewriting") suggests that literature is not a pure light beam from author to reader. It bends through the prisms of editors, publishers, critics, and translators. The PDF provides case studies—ranging from the translation of the Bible to modern poetry—showing how historical context literally changes the meaning of words.