Bassnett’s scholarship, particularly in Translation Studies (1980) and Constructing Cultures (1998), revolves around several foundational ideas:
Before the 1990s, translation research was largely dominated by linguistic theories that sought "equivalence" between source and target texts. Bassnett and Lefevere argued that this approach ignored the reality that translation is never an "innocent" or neutral act. translation history and culture susan bassnett pdf
: Bassnett rejects literal word-for-word accuracy, advocating for "functional equivalence"—achieving the same effect and meaning in the target language as in the original. The keyword "" refers to the seminal work
The keyword "" refers to the seminal work Translation, History and Culture (1990), edited by Susan Bassnett and André Lefevere . This collection of essays formally introduced the " cultural turn " in translation studies, shifting the discipline's focus from narrow linguistic equivalence to the broader impact of culture, history, and ideology. The Core Concept: "The Cultural Turn" History and Culture (1990)
: In this framework, translation is viewed as a form of "rewriting"—a purposeful manipulation of a text to make it function within a new cultural and political context.