Translation research

Research conducted by members of the Translation Studies group is on the following topic areas:

• Translation and politics
• Translation history
• Translation and gender
• Translation and Minority Languages
• Process Research and translation
• Translation didactics and translator training.

Translation and politics

Research in translation and politics covers the analysis of political texts in translation, the role of institutional conditions and constraints on translation profiles and the impact of translated texts on political decisions. Current research is on the relationship between political discourse, translation and mass media and translation in political institutions.

Translation history

Translation history research at Aston has a special focus on translation in situations of war, occupation or dictatorship. Recently completed research was on translation into German in the Nazi era and translation and interpreting practices in the Sino-Japanese War.

Translation and Gender

Research in Translation and Gender examines the political and social role of translation in the construction of gender identities. Drawing on feminist scholarship, research in Translation and Gender explores, among other topics, the linguistic representation of women and men in translation, the role of women translators through history, strategies for feminist translation, gendered/sexualised metaphors of translation, women authors translated and so forth. 

Translation and Minority Languages

Framed within the wider context of Postcolonial Studies, research in translation and minority languages considers the power relationship between different linguistic, literary and cultural systems, and how translation is/can be used as a political tool for the normalization of peripheral cultures and literatures.

Process Research and translation

Research in the area of the translation process considers the different factors affecting the production of translations, in particular the personal and affective factors influencing the translators at work. Empirical investigations in this area are of particular interest. Aston has recently organized a conference on the topic of translation process research, and staff members are involved in international networks in this area.

Translation didactics and translator training

Translation didactics and translator training have been of regular interest to the members of the Translation Studies group. In addition to publications, Aston has organised several conferences and workshops on these topics. In 2010, we hosted the 6th International conference ‘Critical Link’, devoted to Public Service Interpreting. Current research is on translator training and certification in the Middle East and the Far East.