Medieval literature through the lens of translation theory Bridging the interpretive gap

Abstract

Translation activity was particularly prevalent in the European Middle Ages and played a crucial role in the construction and development of national languages and literatures. However, the tools provided by the discipline of translation studies tend not to feature in studies of medieval literary and cultural history. The medievalist would argue that the process of translation in medieval times cannot sensibly be separated from its unique literary and cultural context, whereas translation studies theorizes the processes of translation whenever they occur, employing paradigms that work whatever the context. This article intends to show that theories used in the modern discipline of translation studies can be usefully employed to make sense of translation activity in a historical context. Chaucer's work as a translator and compiler of English versions of foreign texts is investigated through the lens of translation theory in order to complement the insights of literary historians.