Translation Studies Quadrant-Petal Map: An Analytical Retrospect on Intellectual Translation Turns

Abstract

Abstract The history of translation studies is swarming with tenth of categorizations of the hierarchal epochs of translation studies since the arousal of early translation views in the 16th century and till the 21st  century. This study opens a window on the significant translation turns in the history of translation studies; it historically categories significant translation theories conducted across the above-mentioned period under four translation turns, namely: Early views on Translation, The Linguistic-Equivalence turn, The Cultural-Purpose turn and The Interdisciplinarity turn. Such categorization provides a better understanding for the most significant translation theories and models in the history of translation studies and their eminent impact on the translation field in specific and the society in general—generally represented in the recipients of the translation service. Translation Theories under each turn accomplish a major translation aim namely the Nationalistic translation aim*. This nationalistic translation aim represents the translation requirements in its functional, ethical, and social sense as generally required by translation service receivers, labeled in the current study as a Translation Petal; it is further implicitly addressed to the society to positively improve the society’s opinion towards translation. The current study fulfills a threefold aim: First, it sheds light on the significant translation turns across the history of translation studies and highlights the main features of each translation turn. Second, it renames the reviewed translation turns according to the translation function of the significant translation theories under each turn. Third, it elucidates the link between each translation turn and the nationalistic translation aim (i.e. translation petal) it urges for through a precise mind-map entitled as the Translation Studies Quadrant Petal Map [TSQPM] that presents the new naming of the four reviewed turns and clarifies the nationalistic translation aim (i.e. translation petal) implemented under each intellectual translation turn.