ABSTRACT
The concept of norms has become both a key concept and a handy instrument in descriptive translation studies. This chapter describes some initial approaches, explains Gideon Toury’s and after that Andrew Chesterman’s use of norms in translation, go on to sketch the broader theoretical background, and conclude with suggestions on how to study translation norms. The Venson case illustrates how conventions and norms operate, what the difference between a convention and a norm is, and why we have them in the first place. To anticipate: conventions and norms help regulate our lives so as to develop a sustainable form of coexistence. Chesterman’s discussion covers social, ethical and technical norms of translation. The term ‘rule’ is used as meaning a strong, institutionalized norm, often issued by an identifiable authority armed with the power to impose sanctions for non-compliance. In any society a multiplicity of different, intersecting and often conflicting norms coexist.
