The polysystem theory, a theory in
translation studies
Translation studies is an academic interdiscipline dealing with the systematic study of the theory, description and application of translation, interpreting, and Language localisation, localization. As an interdiscipline, translation studies borr ...
, implies using polyvalent factors as an instrument for explaining the
complexity
Complexity characterises the behaviour of a system or model whose components interact in multiple ways and follow local rules, leading to nonlinearity, randomness, collective dynamics, hierarchy, and emergence.
The term is generally used to c ...
of culture within a single community and between communities. Analyzing sets of relations in literature and language, it gradually shifted towards a more complex analysis of socio-cultural
systems.
The polysystem theory has been embraced by students of literature and culture all over the world, and has particularly gained attention in the field of Scandinavian studies.
Its foremost advocate is the Israeli linguist
Itamar Even-Zohar
Itamar Even-Zohar ( he, איתמר אבן-זהר) (born 1939) is an Israeli culture researcher and professor at Tel Aviv University. Even-Zohar is a pioneer of polysystem theory and the theory of cultural repertoires.
Biography
Itamar Even-Zoha ...
. The American scholar
Edwin Gentzler
Edwin Gentzler is a Professor Emeritus of Comparative Literature and former Director of the Translation Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Biography
Gentzler first obtained his BA in English at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio in 19 ...
is another important contributor to this viewpoint.
Polysystem Theory from Routledge Encyclopaedia of Translation Studies
/ref>
Further reading
* Even-Zohar, Itamar
Polysystem Studies
Poetics Today 11.1 (1990)
* Aveling, Harry 2005. “Two Approaches to the Positioning of Translations: A Comparative Study of Itamar Even-Zohar's Polysystem Studies and Gideon Toury
Gideon Toury ( he, גדעון טורי) (6 June 1942 – 4 October 2016) was an Israeli translation scholar and professor of Poetics, Comparative Literature and Translation Studies at Tel Aviv University, where he held the M. Bernstein Chair of ...
's Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond.” ''Kritika Kultura - A Refereed Electronic Journal of Literary/Cultural and Language Studies'', No. 6, November 2005, pp. 6–25.
* Shuttleworth, Mark 2001. “Polysystem Theory”. In ''Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies'', Mona Baker
Mona Baker (born September 29, 1953) is a professor of translation studies and Director of the Centre for Translation and Intercultural Studies at the University of Manchester in England.
Career
Baker studied at the American University in Cairo ...
ed., Routledge: New York & London, pp. 176–179.
* Lambert, José 1997. "Itamar Even-Zohar's Polysystem Studies: An Interdisciplinary Perspective on Culture Research." ''Canadian Review of Comparative Literature / Revue Canadienne de Littérature Comparée'', XXIV, No. 1, pp. 7–14.
* DIMIĆ, Milan V. 1993. "Polysystem Theory", in Makaryk, I. ed. ''Encyclopedia of Contemporary Literary Theory'', University of Toronto Press, Toronto, pp. 151–155.
* McKelvey, Myles 2001. "Translating the Musical ''Les Misérables'': A Polysystemic Approach." http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/MQ59267.pdf
References
Translation studies
Theories
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