Translation studies: Ontological Roots & Epistemological Seeds

Abstract

This paper seeks to highlight a paradox that continues to obscure the status of Translation Studies: the field's institutional expansion globally stands in contrast to its epistemological ambiguity. We refer to the growing ontological presence of the field, seen in the proliferation of institutes, schools, and academic programs-despite the continued lack of clarity regarding its theoretical foundations. Despite the growing number of publications-journals, academic books, and other scholarly output, there remains a vague consensus, or rather an unclear agreement, among scholars concerning the field’s identity, objectives, and scope. This situation hinders efforts to establish Translation Studies as a well defined and autonomous academic discipline. The main goal of this paper is to raise awareness and advocate for a more coherent epistemological framing of Translation Studies, especially in light of the skepticism it sometimes faces, while other disciplines enjoy unquestioned legitimacy or are spared similar scrutiny. Specifically, we aim to identify a set of forces and factors that have contributed to the institutionalization of Translation Studies, often outside traditional political or economic motivations. We also seek to assess whether the field’s knowledge base is compatible with its strong institutional presence, and to explore mechanisms for evaluating the feasibility of establishing Translation Studies as an independent, integrated scientific discipline within the humanities. This theoretical study employed a comparative and analytical approach to historical, sociological, and epistemological data, aiming to construct a framework that evaluates the autonomy of this field. The study’s findings indicate that translation studies have secured their cognitive legitimacy, positioning the field at an intermediate status between established and emerging disciplines.