Translation studies is an academic discipline that focuses on the theoretical foundations, descriptive approaches, and practical aspects of the act of translation. This field explores processes of transferring meaning between different languages while engaging with the cultural, social, and cognitive dimensions of these processes. Translation studies is multilingual and multidisciplinary in nature; it is related to fields such as linguistics, cultural studies, philosophy, semiotics, history, and sociology.

The Difference Between Translation and Translation Studies

There is a conceptual difference between translation and translation studies. Translation is the process of transferring a text from the source language to the target language and the action that carries out this process. Translation studies, on the other hand, is the scientific field of research that systematically examines this action, develops theories, and proposes methods.

History of Translation Studies

While translation has played a significant role in communication throughout history, theoretical and systematic studies on translation are relatively recent.

The term “translation” originates from Latin with the meaning of “to transfer or move something to another place.” In Ancient Rome, Cicero and Horace's distinction between “metaphrase” (word-for-word translation) and “paraphrase” (rephrasing the meaning) formed the basis of early translation theories. These discussions, involving dilemmas such as “fidelity” and “clarity,” have lasted from centuries ago to the present day.

Contemporary Translation Studies

The idea of translation as a science in the modern sense was first proposed by Eugene A. Nida in 1964. In his work “Towards a Science of Translating”, Nida attempted to explain the translation process using a scientific approach, focusing particularly on Bible translations. However, this approach covers technical and linguistic issues within the translation process.

Translation Studies as a Discipline

Translation studies emerged as a separate academic discipline in the 1970s. The 1972 work by James S. Holmes, titled “The Name and Nature of Translation Studies”, is considered a turning point in the field. Holmes argued that translation should be approached not only as an applied activity but also as a scientific discipline with its own concepts and methods. The term “Translation Studies,” proposed by Holmes, is still used at present. In Turkish, this field is generally accepted as “çeviribilim” (“translation science”). The widespread use of the term “translation science” in Turkish is related to the tradition of “Übersetzungswissenschaft” (translation science) in Germany and the acceptance of the term “linguistics” in scientific circles in Türkiye.

James S. Holmes and the Scope of Translation Studies

In his work titled “The Name and Nature of Translation Studies,” James Holmes not only gave this field its name, but also created the first framework defining the scope of translation studies.

^{James Holmes' Map of Translation Studies}