Problem solving strategies in translation Problem solving strategies in translation

Abstract

Space does not permit us to describe in detail the state of the art in the greatly neglected field of problem solving strategies in translation. This can be treated in a separate paper as very little has been published on the subject in English; scholars who read German may consult Henschelmann’s survey article “Zur Beschreibung und Klassifizierung von Übersetzungsverfahren” (1993), Schreiber (1993) or Wilss (1992), who gives a broad theoretical foundation. There can be no doubt that, apart from the three titles mentioned above, there is a considerable lack of information and interest within translation and interpretation studies with respect to problem solving procedures, techniques and (sub)routines of translating/interpreting. This is surprising, given that for more than 15 years translation scholars have agreed upon the necessity of concentrating on the analysis of the complex processes underlying translating/interpreting, whereas previously, in the early stages of translation theory, the emphasis was placed on description of the results of the translation activity, i.e. a more static approach than the now dominant dynamic paradigm was favoured. Space does not permit us to describe in detail the state of the art in the greatly neglected field of problem solving strategies in translation. This can be treated in a separate paper as very little has been published on the subject in English; scholars who read German may consult Henschelmann’s survey article “Zur Beschreibung und Klassifizierung von Übersetzungsverfahren” (1993), Schreiber (1993) or Wilss (1992), who gives a broad theoretical foundation. There can be no doubt that, apart from the three titles mentioned above, there is a considerable lack of information and interest within translation and interpretation studies with respect to problem solving procedures, techniques and (sub)routines of translating/interpreting. This is surprising, given that for more than 15 years translation scholars have agreed upon the necessity of concentrating on the analysis of the complex processes underlying translating/interpreting, whereas previously, in the early stages of translation theory, the emphasis was placed on description of the results of the translation activity, i.e. a more static approach than the now dominant dynamic paradigm was favoured.