28 The Linguist FEBRUARY/MARCH
REVIEWS
Translation and Interpretation Studies (TIS) is
a relatively new academic discipline, going
back two decades. Sergey Tyulenev's study
enriches and strengthens the research scope
of this young discipline. The main thesis is
simple: as the title suggests, Translation and
Society explores translation and interpreting
Routledge,
New York
2014, 210 pp;
ISBN 978-0-415-
72122-6
Paperback,
£24.99
as
a profession from 'a full-scale sociological
perspective' by employing theories as diverse
as Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis, Michel
Foucault's discourse of power, and macro-
and micro-sociological models proposed by
sociologists including Pierre Bourdieu and
Anthony Giddens.
Tyulenev subscribes to a well-trodden
agenda: translation is categorised as a social
system (and/or subsystem) and the translator
is a socialised human being, as well as a
socialised professional. He launches his
argument as cautiously as possible by
acknowledging the trends of TIS, while
emphasising the importance of embracing
'the major models of the study of society and
social phenomena'.
He asserts that the function of translation is
not limited to intercultural mediations but is
also to trigger interactions among individuals
and social subsystems, and within society.
Capitalising on Bourdieu's concept of habitus,
which 'is both structured and structuring',
bridging the social structure and individual
action, Tyulenev argues that, as a component
of society, translation is not only constrained
Translation and
Society: An
introduction
Sergey Tyulenev
by
the social system of economics, politics
and art, but also contributes to social change.
As the book points out, Walter Benjamin
made a similar observation in his famous
essay 'The Translator's Task', and we need
Homi Bhabha's sociological 'hybridity' to gain
a full grasp of the elusiveness of translation as
academic subject and profession. Tyulenev's
research prompts us to situate Translation
Studies in the liminal space between the
individual translator and the social system.
Translation and Society, as the author
clearly indicates, aims neither to exhaust
sociological theories nor to negate the
existing TIS, but to prove how closely
translation interacts with the social system
and, therefore, how vital interdisciplinary
studies of translation and sociology are.
The book is designed as a textbook to be
used in translation theory classes. It is also a
useful guide both to budding translators,
helping them to envision their future careers,
and to established professionals, leading
them to re-evaluate their role in terms of
social interaction.
Yoonjoung Choi MCIL
IoLET Level 6 Diploma in Police Interpreting (QCF)
IoL EDUCATIONAL TRUST
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