ABSTRACT
The main aim of this book is to present the major theories of translation in an objective way, underlining the strengths of each one and how each has contributed to the evolution of the discipline as a whole. This final chapter seeks to respond to questions about the nature of the link between translation theory and translation practice. This is central to a discipline that straddles the academic subject of translation studies and the working practices of professional translators and is often located in universities that are heavily involved in training translators. The focus of this chapter is as follows:
Section 12.1 draws together the various strands of theory under the concept of ‘consilience’ (Chesterman 2005) and assesses their possible importance for the future.
The last two sections then examine the application of theory to the two most common extended theoretical projects undertaken in universities: in Section 12.2, commentary projects, where students have to write an extended commentary to accompany and explain a translation they have produced, and in Section 12.3, more substantial research projects, most commonly at Masters or PhD level. The aim is to highlight those areas of theory that may have a particular bearing on such research.
