Texts and the Dynamics of Cultural Transfer – Translations as Events

Abstract

The notion of a moveable text involves projection - projection in the form of interpretation, projection also in the form of translation, so that something like a double movement comes into being. Translations constitute a special case of cultural dynamics as, in a sense, they both repeat and change what was written before. They function and are effective in a new environment. Their outcome is not wholly a new original, such as writers produce, but neither a noncommittal reaction or detached study, such as critics deliver. In translations we see the workings of cultural dynamics in optima forma. In order to interpret these dynamics and the receptional afterlife of a text, a distinction should be made between reception events and reception incidents. The author of the article suggests that there is a strong case to award translations the status of event.