Epistemology of translating: norms of use and their description 'a parte post'

Abstract

This paper discusses fundamental features of the conditions of possibility for the translation act, from a theoretical stance of pragmatic and perspectivist nature, between the essentialism of tradition and postmodern relativism. The aspects under scrutiny point to an epistemology of translating tributary, among others, to the epistemology of the usage developed by Arley Moreno, coming out from the therapy of concepts by Ludwig Wittgenstein and the notion of style of Gilles Gaston Granger. The discussion departs from Gideon Toury’s concept of translation norms and two criticisms directed to it, from different perspectives: (1) sociology of the translation; (2) deconstruction. The argumentative background is built by the understanding that Toury’s approach is fully compatible with the later Wittgenstein’s conception of language, not only in the application of his notion of family resemblance to the field of translation, but also in the way Toury mobilizes himself the concept of norm underlying the use to be described. It is argued that the translation norms in Toury’s sense reveal the a parte post character that Granger attributes to the phenomena of style, and which Moreno investigates in the transcendental function of language. Finally, it is suggested that the poles adequacy vs. acceptability in Toury’s proposal reveal two logical moments in the translation process: initial analogy (between what is different) and digital accommodation into the target environment.