Contra Instrumentalism: A Translation Polemic

Contra Instrumentalism challenges the notion that translation is a neutral or objective process that simply reproduces or transfers an invariant contained in the source text. It argues that all translation is an interpretive act that involves ethical responsibilities and political commitments. Lawrence Venuti proposes a hermeneutic model of translation that provides a more comprehensive and insightful understanding of translation, enabling us to appreciate its creative and scholarly aspects as well as its crucial role in cultural and social institutions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2019
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Contra Instrumentalism challenges the widely held belief that translation merely reproduces or transfers an inherent invariant found in or caused by the source text. This "instrumental" model of translation has held sway over translation theory and commentary for over two millennia, exerting its influence in various domains, including elite and popular cultures, academic institutions, publishing, scholarly monographs, literary journalism, theoretical discourses, and everyday clichés.

Contra Instrumentalism seeks to challenge the dominance of instrumentalism by demonstrating its oversimplification of translation practice and the creation of an illusion of immediate access to source texts. Lawrence Venuti, a prominent scholar in translation studies, argues that all translation is an interpretive act that inherently carries ethical responsibilities and political commitments. Venuti posits that a hermeneutic model provides a more comprehensive and insightful understanding of translation, enabling us to appreciate not only the creative and scholarly aspects of what a translator does but also the crucial role translation plays in the cultural and social institutions that shape human life.

In the hermeneutic model, translation is seen as a dynamic and interpretive process that involves the active engagement of the translator with the source text. The translator is not merely a passive conduit for conveying information but rather an active interpreter who brings their own cultural and linguistic background to bear on the translation process. The hermeneutic approach emphasizes the importance of context, meaning, and interpretation in translation, recognizing that no two translations can be identical due to the inherent differences between languages and cultures.

One of the key insights of the hermeneutic model is that translation is not a neutral or objective process but rather a deeply subjective and ethical endeavor. The translator has a responsibility to convey the meaning of the source text accurately and faithfully while also taking into account the cultural and social context in which the translation will be read. This requires a deep understanding of both the source text and the target language and a sensitivity to the ethical and political implications of translation.

Furthermore, the hermeneutic model recognizes that translation is not just a matter of linguistic translation but also involves a broader the transfer of cultural and social values. The translator must be aware of the cultural norms, beliefs, and practices of the target audience and work to ensure that the translation is culturally appropriate and sensitive. This involves not only a literal translation of words and phrases but also a re-imagining of the text in a way language and culture that is accessible and meaningful to the target audience.

In conclusion, contra Instrumentalism offers a valuable alternative to the dominance of instrumentalism in translation theory and practice. By emphasizing the hermeneutic model, we can gain a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of translation that recognizes the creative, scholarly, and ethical dimensions of what a translator does. The hermeneutic approach enables us to appreciate the crucial role that translation plays in shaping human life and culture and to address the ethical and political responsibilities that come with the translation process.

Weight: 250g
Dimension: 129 x 202 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496205131