Interdisciplinarity in translation studies: a didactic model for research positioning

Abstract

ABSTRACT The seminal role of the Holmes/Toury map within translation studies has led to its use as a didactic tool although neither scholar envisaged this purpose originally. This paper proposes a complementary didactic model to reveal the interdisciplinary layers of research projects after positioning them on the Holmes/Toury map. A critical overview of how maps have evolved from descriptions of the field to having didactic purposes is given, and criticism of the Holmes/Toury map is reviewed to demonstrate its importance for the first positioning of a work. An investigation of eight sample theses indicates the current interdisciplinary research trends and suggests the need for a more refined didactic tool. The proposed model is introduced as a way to fill an evident gap. Its aim is to help students and researchers position their own and other academic work within translation studies to gain deeper awareness in this regard. By presenting a general model for researchers' use, its concrete application to two cases – a book-long and a shorter publication – and a discussion of its strengths and weaknesses, I argue that it is a useful didactic tool for obtaining a clearer overview of the interdisciplinarity typical for research in translation studies.