ABSTRACT
A translation space is defined here as a space of heightened language awareness, where exchange is accelerated or blocked, facilitated or forced, questioned or critiqued. Space became an important preoccupation of translation studies under the influence of the intellectual frameworks of the 1980s—notably post-structuralism and post-colonialism. The birth of the discipline of translation studies in the 1980s was very much influenced by this preoccupation with space. Space has moved closer to the centre of current investigation in translation studies through such notions as the translation 'zone', explored for instance by Emily Apter. The highlighting of space in translation studies comes with a questioning of what Doreen Massey has called the 'billiard-ball view' of 'cultural isolates'. Maria Tymoczko launched a debate in translation studies when she argued against the idea of an 'inbetween' space for translators, an idea which has been reprised and discussed by Tony Bennett.
