Translation Studies and the fascination and illusion of multidisciplinarity

Authors

• Ritva Hartama-Heinonen University of Helsinki

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61200/mikael.129617

Keywords:

translation studies, multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, KäTu

Abstract

Within the field of Translation Studies, multi/pluri-, inter-, and trans/crossdisciplinarity are long-standing and often proudly presented attributes to describe the versatile theoretical and methodological vantage points and choices. This article investigates the explicit visibility of this -disciplinarity terminology in translation-theoretical contributions and seminar presentations and also discusses the noticeable and more or less ambivalent attitude towards the impulses brought from other disciplines, as manifested in translation research. In addition, the discussion endeavours to address closely related questions, such as what is presented or regarded as an interdisciplinary study; what is the core, and the margins, as well as the role of the distinction centre–periphery in the emergence and evolution of translation-theoretical paradigms; and finally, whether interdisciplinarity, in the end, means integration, fragmentation, or diversification.