ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. In the book, methodological and theoretical insights adopted will be collected from a wide array of disciplines, from sociology and organization theory to cultural studies and anthropology. Translators are often seen to live a similar shadowy existence; the history of translation has been described as the study of a shadow culture. The continuing globalization, growing co-operation and contact between cultures have increased the need for institutional translation and interpreting in both supranational and national contexts, but the translating and translated institutions as such have a long history. Case studies, such as Sulkunen's study of Liisa and her context, typically focus on an individual, a particular incident or on a small community. Traditional ethnographic research in anthropology would require a lengthy period of participant observation, and short visits to the field have been described as mere ethnographic tourism.
