The Translator's Invisibility: A History of Translation - Softcover

Venuti, Lawrence

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415394554 ISBN 13: 9780415394550

Publisher: Routledge, 2008

Synopsis

Since publication over ten years ago, The Translator’s Invisibility has provoked debate and controversy within the field of translation and become a classic text. Providing a fascinating account of the history of translation from the seventeenth century to the present day, Venuti shows how fluency prevailed over other translation strategies to shape the canon of foreign literatures in English and investigates the cultural consequences of the receptor values which were simultaneously inscribed and masked in foreign texts during this period. The author locates alternative translation theories and practices in British, American and European cultures which aim to communicate linguistic and cultural differences instead of removing them.

Reissued with a new introduction as part of the Routledge Translation Classics series, The Translator’s Invisibility is essential reading for students of translation studies at all levels.

About this title

Review

"One of today's premier translation theorists, Venuti (Temple Univ.) focuses his translation-theory lens on globalization...An engaging and valuable investigation into the trends and mechanics of translation." -- C.M. DiFranco, Choice

 

 

 

Praise for the first edition:

'Starting with the English translations of Catullus and concluding with the translations created by Robert Lowell and Zukofsky, Venuti tries to show how the theory and practice of translating literary works has been enacted throughout the centuries.' - World Literature Today

' ... Lawrence Venuti's prose is generally natural, idiomatic and precise. Fluent, even.' - Times Literary Supplement

Synopsis

Since publication over ten years ago, "The Translator's Invisibility" has provoked debate and controversy within the field of translation and become a classic text. Providing a fascinating account of the history of translation from the seventeenth century to the present day, Venuti shows how fluency prevailed over other translation strategies to shape the canon of foreign literatures in English and investigates the cultural consequences of the receptor values which were simultaneously inscribed and masked in foreign texts during this period. The author locates alternative translation theories and practices in British, American and European cultures which aim to communicate linguistic and cultural differences instead of removing them.In this new edition of his work, Venuti: clarifies and further develops key terms and arguments; responds to critical commentary on his argument; incorporates new case studies that include: an 18th century translation of a French novel by a working class woman; Richard Burton's controversial translation of the Arabian Nights; modernist poetry translation; translations of Dostoevsky by the bestselling translators Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky; and translated crime fiction; and, updates data on the current state of translation, including publishing statistics and translators' rates.

"The Translator's Invisibility "will be essential reading for students of translation studies at all levels. "Lawrence Venuti" is Professor of English at Temple University, Philadelphia. He is a translation theorist and historian as well as a translator and his recent publications include: "The Scandals of Translation: Towards an Ethics of Difference" and "The Translation Studies Reader, both published by Routledge."

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0415394554
• ISBN 13: 9780415394550
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 336