Polysystem Theory & Descriptive Translation: A Student Guide
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10 cards
Question: What is a polysystem in the context of literature and culture?
Answer: A heterogeneous, dynamic "system of systems" (e.g., literature, language, culture) whose interacting components compete for dominance and evolve over
Question: How does polysystem theory view translated literature's potential role in a target culture?
Answer: Translated literature can occupy a central (primary) position as a major source of innovation when the literature is young, peripheral, or in crisis,
Question: What determines whether translated literature is primary or secondary in a polysystem?
Answer: The status of the target literature (e.g., whether it is young, peripheral, or established) and the cultural conditions that make translations innovat
Question: How does polysystem theory characterize the nature of cultural systems?
Answer: Systems are dynamic and rarely static; they shift as elements (like translated literature) move between the center and periphery of the polysystem.
Question: According to polysystem theory, what influences translation choices beyond linguistics?
Answer: Socio-cultural, political, and historical contexts influence translation choices.
Question: Who founded polysystem theory and which intellectual traditions influenced it?
Answer: Itamar Even-Zohar founded polysystem theory; he was influenced by Russian Formalism and Czech Structuralism.
Question: What major shift in translation studies is attributed to polysystem theory?
Answer: It shifted the field from a pre-scientific focus on accuracy to a descriptive, cultural approach that considers translations' function within the targ
Question: How does polysystem theory oppose treating literature as "systematic" occurrences?
Answer: It argues against viewing literature as a-historical, discrete events and instead models it as complex, evolving, and sometimes chaotic systems.
Question: What functional role does translated literature play in the target culture according to polysystem theory?
Answer: Translated literature helps shape the target culture and serves as an instrument for explaining cultural complexity.
Question: How is polysystem theory related to the study of translation norms?
Answer: It is often linked with Descriptive Translation Studies (e.g., Gideon Toury) in focusing on norms that govern translation within cultural systems.