User:Josna joseph/Summary of Itamar Even-Zohar's "The Position of Translated literature within the literary polysystem

SUMMARY OF ITAMAR EVEN-ZOHAR’S “THE POSITION OF TRANSLATED LITERATURE WITHIN THE LITERARY POLYSTEM”

Itamar Even-Zohar ‘s “The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem” is related to cultural theory. It was published in 1978 and revised in 1990.Itamar Even-Zohar has made two interrelated hypotheses in this essay: first, that the position assumed by translated literature in the literary polysystem tends to be a peripheral one except in three special cases, and second, that translation tends towards acceptability when it is at the periphery, and towards adequacy when it is at the centre.

In polysystem theory a literary work is not studied in isolation but as part of a literary system. In other words literature is a part of social, cultural, literary and historical framework. A literary system can influence other ones. It's to say, the translated literature which is being imported to a country can influence the native writings. These effects can be more or less in according to some causes and effects.

Even-Zohar points out; it seems that there is neither awareness of the function of translated literature for a literature as a whole or of  its position within that literature, nor awareness of the possible existence of translated literature as a particular literary system. The prevailing concept is rather that of "translation" or just "translated works" treated on an individual basis. He indicates that through the foreign works, feature (both principles and elements) are introduced into the home literature which did not exist there before.

Central Position and Peripheral Position

Literature of every country consists of 'original' writings and 'translated' writings. Each of these kinds can occupy the central position or peripheral one in the literary system of a country. Even-Zohar conceives that translated literature not only is as an integral system within any literary system, but as a most active system within it. Sometimes the primary position is occupied by original writings and sometimes by translated ones. But what would happen if the translated works are in the primary position of the polysystem literary in a country? If translated literature maintains a central position in the literary polysystem it means that it participates actively in shaping the center of the polysytem. Thus, if translated literature assumes such a situation it would be by large an integral part of innovatory forces; and in this case, it would play a major role event in literary history of a country. Consequently, this implies that in this situation no clear-cut distinction is maintained between 'original' and 'translated' writings. Three major cases when translated literature can occupy the primary position in a country: (a) When a polysystem has not yet been crystallized, that is to say, when a literature is'young' in the process of being      established; (b) When a literature is either 'peripheral' (within a large group of correlated literature) or ' weak, ' or both; and (c) When there are turning points, crises, or literary vacuum in a literature. Literature is 'peripheral' or 'weak' and imports those lacking literary types. This can happen when a smaller nation is dominated by the culture of a larger one. Even-Zohar admits that all kinds of peripheral literature may in such cases consist of translated literature. This can happen at various levels. It may be assumed that in a long run no system can remain in a constant state of weakness, "turning points," or crisis, although the possibility should not be excluded that some polysystems may maintain such states for quite a long time. Translated literature can occupy the primary position in several causes. One of them is when there are literary vacuums in the literature of a country. It is to say, one of these vacuums takes place when the current original literary works are no longer considered sufficient. In these situations that the native literature cannot satisfy the public expectations, it is easier for foreign literature to assume central position. But we should consider that when translated works occupy the primary position, they can have influences on culture at a given time or forever. In this case it can have influence on other literary systems. In other words, as Even-Zohar admits, not only is the socio-literary status of translation dependent upon its position within the polysystem, but the very practice of translation is also strongly subordinated to that position. Translation not only is a phenomenon whose nature and borders are given once and for all, but also an activity that may have a certain relationship with the cultural system. There are cases when translated literature occupies the secondary position and represents a peripheral system within the polysystem. So, in this situation it has no major influence over the central system which is the original and native literature. In fact, it attempts to conform itself to the literary norms of the target system, the native one. This secondary position is the "normal" one for the translated literature.Sometimes the primary position is occupied by original writings and sometimes by translated ones. But what would happen if the translated works occupy the primary position of the polysystem literary in a country? The very practice of translation is strongly subordinated to that position. If translated literature maintains a central position in the literary polysystem it means that it participates actively in shaping the center of the polysytem. Thus, if translated literature assumes such a situation it would be by large an integral part of innovatory forces; and in this case, it would play a major role event in literary history of a country. If translated literature occupies the secondary position then it represents a peripheral system within the polysystem. So, in this situation it has no major influence over the central system which is the original and native literature. Author points out that the secondary position is the "normal" position for the translated literature.

Work Cited Even-Zohar, Itamar. 1990a. “The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem”.  