The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem.ppt

Chapter 13 The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystemby Itamar Even-Zohar Ideas of PolysystemvIn spite of the broad recognition among historians of culture of the major role translation has played in the crystallization of national cultures, relatively little research has been carried out in this area.vMention translations when it is unavoidablevSeldom incorporated into the historical account in a coherent wayvWhat is the function of translated literature as a whole?vWhat is its position within that literature?vNo awareness of the possible existence of translated literature as a particular literary system.vCould translated literature be a system?vIs there a sort of cultural and verbal network of relations within a group of translated texts? What kind of relations might be?vTranslated works do correlate in at least two ways:(a) in the way their source texts are selected by the target literature: correlatable with the home co-systems of the target literature(b) In the way they adopt specific norms, behaviors, and policies- in their use of the literary repertoire: result from their relations with the other home co-systemsvTranslated literature is not only as an integral system within any literary polysystem, but as a most active system within it.vWhether translated literature becomes central or peripheral(边缘的),whether this position is connected with innovatory (primary) or conservatory (secondary) repertoires, depends on the specific constellation of the polysystem under study. The central Position of Translated LiteraturevIt participates actively in shaping the center of the polysystem. vIt is an integral part of innovatory forces, identified with major events in literary history.vThere is no clear-cut distinction between “original” and “translated” writings.vNew literary models are emerging, translation becomes one of the means of elaborating the new repertoire. (new models of reality, new poetic language, compositional patterns and techniques)vThe texts are chosen according to their compatibility with the new approached and the supposedly innovatory role they may assume within the target literature.vThe conditions of literature maintaining a central position in the literary polysystem:(a) When a polysystem has not been crystallized, that is, when a literature is “young”, in the process of being established.(b) When a literature is either “peripheral” (within a large group of correlated literatures) or “weak”, or both.(c) When there are turning points, crises, or literary vacuums in a literature.vfulfill the need of a younger literature to put into use its newly founded tongue for as many literary types as possiblevmake it serviceable as a literary language and useful for its merging publicvresources of established literatures are limited, position within a larger literary hierarchy is generally peripheral.vsuch literatures often do not develop the same full range of literary activities observable in adjacent larger literatures (which may create a feeling that they are indispensable).vPeripheral literatures in the Western Hemisphere tend to be identical with the literatures of smaller nations.vWithin a group of relatable national literatures, hierarchical relations have been established since the very beginnings of these literatures. (eg. The literatures of Europe) vWithin this (macro-)polysystem, peripheral literatures were modeled upon an exterior literature. (TL is a major channel of renovating repertoire, and a source of reshuffling and supplying alternatives.) vstronger literatures may adopt novelties from some periphery within their indigenous borders, “weak” literatures often depend on import alone.vAt some historical moments, established models are no longer tenable for a younger generation, no item in the indigenous stock is taken to be acceptable, turning points or literary “vacuum” occurs, and translated literature may consequently assume a central position, whether they are strong or weak literatures.。