Introduction: Revisiting mediation in translation and interpreting

Citation

Wang C & de Pedro Ricoy R (2023) Introduction: Revisiting mediation in translation and interpreting. Translation and Interpreting Studies, 18 (2), pp. 255-260. https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.00056.wan

Abstract
First paragraph: In Translation and Interpreting Studies, mediation has been discussed, debated, and studied from various perspectives. Although mediation is also routinely conducted in monolingual settings, translators and interpreters are often viewed as bilingual mediators in cross-cultural communicative situations. This thematic section focuses on the perception of translators and interpreters as active intermediaries who can adopt a role of advocacy, help reach an agreement, achieve conciliation, or reinforce beliefs and ideologies. The term “mediation” was used in this sense as early as 1968 by Otto Kade, who labeled translation as Sprachmittlung (linguistic mediation; cited in Pöchhacker 2008: 10). In more recent times, it is not unusual to find terms such as “interpreted-mediated” encounters (e.g., Wadensjö 1998, 2008; Gavioli and Baraldi 2011) or “translator-mediated” interaction (e.g., Biel 2021) in the literature.

Keywords
Mediation; Translation; Interpreting

Journal
Translation and Interpreting Studies: Volume 18, Issue 2