Productively losing control, or how Architecture can inspire translation ethics
In this article, an attempt is made to view Architecture as a source of inspiration for translation ethics. First, it is argued
that Architecture is not a discipline that is as distant from translation studies as it might seem at first sight. Second, the
example of the Wyly Theater in Dallas is discussed in an attempt to summarize contemporary concerns in architectural practice:
“productively losing control,” a motto used by
Prince-Ramus (2009), is then applied to
translation ethics and the paper goes on to explore possible parallels between how a building may function within its surroundings
and how texts may function within a social context. More specifically, it is shown that selected functional aspects of the Wyly
Theater might form a guiding principle for teaching how to resolve ethical issues in the translation of politically sensitive
texts taken from the Greek and Cypriot contexts.
Article outline
- Introduction
- The if-question between Architecture and translation studies: Is a comparison conceivable at all?
- The what-question between Architecture and translation studies: ‘symbolic’ space
- The how-question between Architecture and translation studies: The architectural metaphor
- The how-question continued: Architectural design meets translation ethics at the example of the Wyly Theater
- The architectural object
- The significance for translation ethics
- Instead of a conclusion
- Notes
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References