The Post-Structuralist Approach: Routledge Advances in Translation and Literary Studies

Post-structuralism is a theoretical approach that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a reaction to the perceived limitations of structuralism. Structuralism, which had dominated the field of linguistics and literary theory in the mid-20th century, sought to identify the underlying structures of language and literature, assuming that these structures were objective and universal.

Empirical Studies of Translation and Interpreting: The Post-Structuralist Approach (Routledge Advances in Translation and Interpreting Studies)

by Andrew Patrizio

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Language	:	English
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Post-structuralists, on the other hand, argued that there is no such thing as a single, objective meaning of a text. Instead, they argued that the meaning of a text is always contingent on the context in which it is produced and received. This context includes the author's background, the audience's expectations, and the cultural and historical moment in which the text is produced.

As a result, post-structuralists focus on the ways in which meaning is produced and circulated in discourse. They examine the power relations that shape discourse, the ways in which subjectivity is constructed, and the intertextual connections that link texts to other texts.

Key Concepts of Post-Structuralism

• Deconstruction: Deconstruction is a method of literary analysis that seeks to dismantle the assumptions and binary oppositions that underlie a text. Deconstructionists argue that these assumptions and oppositions are not natural or inevitable, but rather are the result of social and historical forces.
• Discourse analysis: Discourse analysis is a method of analyzing language that focuses on the ways in which language shapes and is shaped by social and historical contexts. Discourse analysts examine the ways in which power relations are inscribed in language, the ways in which subjectivity is constructed through language, and the ways in which language is used to legitimize and naturalize particular social practices.
• Power relations: Post-structuralists argue that power relations are not simply top-down, but rather are diffused throughout society. Power is exercised through discourse, through the ways in which knowledge is produced and circulated, and through the ways in which subjectivity is constructed.
• Subjectivity: Post-structuralists argue that subjectivity is not fixed or essential, but rather is constructed through discourse. Subjectivity is shaped by the ways in which we are positioned in society, the ways in which we are interpellated by ideology, and the ways in which we are represented in language.
• Intertextuality: Post-structuralists argue that all texts are intertextual, meaning that they are connected to other texts in a web of interrelationships. Intertextuality can be manifested through direct quotation, allusion, parody, or simply through the ways in which texts share common themes, motifs, or structures.

Applications of Post-Structuralism in Translation and Literary Studies

Post-structuralist theory has been widely applied in the fields of translation and literary studies. In translation studies, post-structuralists have examined the ways in which power relations shape the translation process, the ways in which subjectivity is constructed through translation, and the ways in which intertextuality affects the translation of literary texts.

In literary studies, post-structuralists have examined the ways in which meaning is produced and circulated in literary texts, the ways in which power relations are inscribed in literary texts, and the ways in which subjectivity is constructed through literary texts.

Post-structuralism is a complex and challenging theoretical approach, but it has also been a highly productive one. Post-structuralist theory has provided new ways of thinking about language, literature, and translation, and it has helped us to understand the ways in which power relations, subjectivity, and intertextuality shape our understanding of the world.

Further Reading

• The Post-Structuralist Approach: Routledge Advances in Translation and Literary Studies
• Post-Structuralist Theory: A Very Short
• Post-structuralism

Empirical Studies of Translation and Interpreting: The Post-Structuralist Approach (Routledge Advances in Translation and Interpreting Studies)

by Andrew Patrizio

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3703 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	301 pages
Paperback	:	154 pages
Grade level	:	10 - 12
Item Weight	:	7.5 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.35 x 9 inches

FREE