Descriptive Translation Studies – and beyond (Benjamins Translation Library) – HardcoverGideon Toury

This volume is an expanded and slightly revised edition of the book originally published in 1995, which generated significant debate upon its release. It represents a further stage in a long-term research project initiated in the 1970s. Its central aim is to move beyond the use of descriptive methods as a merely auxiliary tool and to establish Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS) as a core branch of the discipline, positioned between theoretical and applied approaches.

Throughout the book, theoretical and methodological discussions are supported by a wide range of case studies, emphasizing the importance of analyzing translational phenomena within their relevant contexts.

Part One examines the central role of the descriptive branch within Translation Studies, while Part Two provides a detailed justification for this position. Building on this foundation, Part Three presents a series of case studies in which key issues are analyzed and contextualized: texts and patterns of translational behavior are situated within their cultural environments, and textual elements are related both to the source texts and to the broader cultural frameworks in which they function.

Part Four then considers the implications of the knowledge gained from descriptive studies for both the theoretical and applied branches of the field. Overall, this is an innovative and thought-provoking work that is essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in translation studies.