The spread of translation studies research: An analysis based on the translation studies bibliography

摘要

In the last decades Translation Studies has explicitly tried to develop and to look upon itself as an interdiscipline. This evolution as well as this selfesteem have not only widened the scope of the field, they also have created a sometimes unclear eclecticism of topics, influences and methods. Characteristic of a still not too well established and not always acknowledged discipline, research in Translation Studies has been looking for common interests and common grounds with other disciplines in an ambitious, but often unstructured way. The new online Translation Studies Bibliography (first release October 2004), which concentrates on the last decade, is an excellent tool to use as a basis for the analysis of the multiplicity of influences. The TSB offers more than 6000 annotated entries on TS research (around 10 000 entries for the second release in 2005) and uses a sophisticated key word system. The analysis of these key words and their thematic fields tells a lot about the priorities in the dissemination of TS research during the last decade. How does the research on translation nowadays relate to that of interpretation? Is research on literary translation still as widespread as it used to be in the eighties? Is it true that the study of contextual and institutional influences mainly focuses on political and ethical aspects? etc. The results of this analysis may indicate clearer accents and research priorities for the next decade in Translation Studies.