Personal Socio-academic Contributions in Translation and Interpreting Studies

Abstract

Personal socio-academic contributions have been particularly influential in the emergence and early development of TIS (Translation and Interpreting Studies). This is shown through the analysis of three case studies, the Leuven-CETRA-EST lineage, the ESIT-Interpretive Theory paradigm and the birth of the Japan Association for Interpreting (and Translation) Studies. Besides these particularly spectacular and unusual cases in which personal socio-academic contributions played a major role, individual researchers can help break the isolation of small branch-specific TIS communities by organizing face-to-face and online meetings and interaction, and help ensure that the TIS population is renewed through a supportive and inspiring attitude that would give graduating students motivation to engage in research. There is no guarantee that TIS will continue to exist as a disciplinary entity, but what it has gained through its disciplinary existence so far could be useful for future investigations into translation and interpreting.