Research on translation in general, and on specialised translation in particular,
has long abandoned a purely linguistic perspective and has embraced principles
and methodologies coming from neighbouring disciplines such as terminology,
cognitive psychology, philosophy and sociology. The translator’s job is today
seen as an activity where considerations of a purely linguistic nature are often
accompanied, if not superseded, by a wide array of considerations that were
traditionally thought to pertain to the extra-linguistic sphere (and therefore seen
as lying outside the scope of studies of translation). The paper provides a brief
overview of recent discussions of the two notions of “translation norm” and
“translation competence”, seen from an essentially sociological perspective.
Reference is made to how such discussions can positively contribute to the
teaching of translation, and implications are drawn for a redefinition of the
professional translator’s status.
