Beyond the Translator's Invisibility - (Translation, Interpreting and Transfer) by Peter J Freeth & Rafael Treviño (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The question of whether to disclose that a text is a translation and thereby give visibility to the translator has dominated discussions on translation throughout history. Despite becoming one of the most ubiquitous terms in translation studies, however, the concept of translator (in)visibility is often criticized for being vague, overly adaptable, and grounded in literary contexts. This interdisciplinary volume therefore draws on concepts from fields such as sociology, the digital humanities, and interpreting studies to develop and operationalize theoretical understandings of translator visibility beyond these existing criticisms and limitations. Through empirical case studies spanning areas including social media research, reception studies, institutional translation, and literary translation, this volume demonstrates the value of understanding the visibilities of translators and translation in the plural and adds much-needed nuance to one of translation studies' most pervasive, polarizing, and imprecise concepts.

Contributors: Klaus Kaindl (University of Vienna), Renée Desjardins (Université de Saint-Boniface), Helle V. Dam (Aarhus University), Minna Ruokonen (University of Eastern Finland), Deborah Giustini (Hamad Bin Khalifa University / KU Leuven), Motoko Akashi (Trinity College Dublin), Peter J. Freeth (London Metropolitan University), Seyhan Bozkurt Jobanputra (Yeditepe University), Gys-Walt van Egdom (Utrecht University), Haidee Kotze (Utrecht University), Pardaad Chamsaz (British Library), Rachel Foss (British Library), Will René (National Poetry Library), Esa Penttilä (University of Eastern Finland), Juha Lång (University of Eastern Finland), Juho Suokas (University of Eastern Finland), Erja Vottonen (University of Eastern Finland), and Helka Riionheimo (University of Eastern Finland).

Review Quotes

For nearly thirty years, visibility has occupied an influential position in the theoretical framing of translation and translators' work. This forward-looking volume breathes fresh life into this much-debated mainstay by reflecting the affordances of contemporary methodologies and praxis, with inspiring conceptual and empirical enquiries cutting across social media, professional practice, status, digital paratexts, reception, and translation in/for research. In pivoting away from Venuti's narrow, literary-historical focus, Freeth and Treviño bring visibility firmly into the 21st century. - Callum Walker, University of Leeds

In this excellent collection, Freeth and Treviño offer a long overdue perspective on the in/visibilities (in plural) of translation and translators, challenging prevailing conceptions of visibility. The importance of this volume lies in its critical approach questioning the assumption of invisibility, as well as how desirable it is for translators to be visible. This book certainly has the potential of reshaping the discourse on a topic ubiquitous in Translation Studies. - Rafael Schögler, University of Graz

This highly interesting volume engages critically with the scope and limitations of the notions of visibility and invisibility in various translational practices. The chapters demonstrate the value of a more complex and diversified understanding of translator and translation (in)visibility and offer broader perspectives as well as innovative interdisciplinary ways of investigation. - Christina Schäffner, Aston University

About the Author

Peter J. Freeth is senior lecturer in translation at London Metropolitan University.

Rafael Treviño is a sign language interpreter at the US Department of State and is completing his doctoral studies at Gallaudet University.