The Translation Process: The Status of Tranface (the Translator’s Preface) Among Iranian Readers

Abstract

Tranface is a valuable resource for the readers that contains useful information about the translator and translation. It also enables the translator to become more visible and promote his/her status in the society. The present study investigated the status of tranface among Iranian readers. To do so, a questionnaire consisting of 12 questions of both open-ended and closed-ended items was prepared based on Genette’s (1997) definition of the preface/tranface and the importance he considers for both. Furthermore, a semi-interview was set up with the three translation teachers, who were the faculty members of Iranian translation universities, to have a rich discussion and obtain the desired results. As the results indicated, a great majority of the participants either were unfamiliar with tranface or ignored it when reading the book. This alludes to the unsatisfactory position of tranface and its low status among Iranian readers, which unfortunately tranface enjoys it.

Keywords

• translation
• preface
• tranface
• translator's visibility