Translation, Power, Subversion

During the latter half of this century, particular attention has been paid to translating. The progress and change of perspective in this field of knowledge have been spectacular, moving from a scientific and prescriptive vision of translation to a descriptive one, which, in turn, has given way to the interaction between translation and culture. The starting point of this book is the idea that language is not neutral and that, insofar as language is the translator’s tool, the act of translating is not neutral either. Translation shapes the way in which a given society receives a work, an author, a literature, or a culture; therefore it is necessary to locate the subversive aspects of translations in the larger framework of social interaction. Translating can never be neutral, as it is charged with ideology and ‘games of power’. The most attractive feature of this anthology is that in the essays we can see how norms vary from one culture to another, how a ‘strong’ society may wish to alter those of a ‘weaker’ one through translation, or how the canon can be modified. Translation as a political or manipulative action will be much less dangerous if we are aware of its consequences. This book will help us to reflect on this problem.