Polysystem Theory

1. Polysystem Theory SassanMirdashti Ali Soltani OmidZhianTabasy

2. Roots • Russian Formalism (1920s) • For a formalist, a literary work was not studied in isolation, but as a part of a literary system, which itself is defined as ‘a system of functions of the literary order which are in continual interrelationship with other orders.’

3. Definition of Polysystem • Polysystem: Even-Zohar’s definition of polysystem “a multiple system , a system of various systems which intersect with each other and partly overlap, using concurrently different options, yet functioning as one structured whole, whose members are interdependent”. (Even-Zohar 1979: 290)

4. system • “the network of relations that can be hypothesized for a certain set of assumed observables (‘occurrences’ / ‘phenomena’)” (Even-Zohar 1990:27)

5. Even Zohar preferred the word polysystem and not system • In EvenZohar’s writings, the terms ‘system’ and ‘polysystem’ are to a large extent synonymous. However, the latter term was proposed in order to stress the dynamic nature of his conception of the ‘system’ and to distance it from the more static connotations which the term had acquired in the Saussurean tradition.

8. The polysystem theory • While offering a general model for understanding, analyzing and describing the functioning and evolution of literary systems, its specific application to the study of translated literature – an area frequently marginalized by literary theory – has given rise to much useful discussion and research.

9. polysystem • Even-Zohar reacts against ‘the fallaciesof the traditional aesthetic approach’ which had focused on ‘high’ literature and had disregarded as unimportant literary systems or genres such as children’s literature, thrillers and the whole system of translated literature. Even-Zohar emphasizes that translated literature operates as a system.

10. The polysystem is conceived as a heterogeneous, hierarchized system of systems which interact to bring about an ongoing, dynamic process of evolution within the polysystem as a whole.

11. Some keywords in polysystem theory • Central vs. peripheral • Primary vs. secondary • Adequacy vs. acceptability • Innovatory vs. Conservatory

12. Hierarchy

13. dynamic process of evolution

15. as primary

17. Discussion of some keywords • Young: • A literature in the process of being established • Looks initially to older literatures for ready-made models • Peripheral or weak: • Within a large group of correlated literatures • Turning points, crises, literary vacuum: • Established models are no longer considered sufficient

18. translated literature assumes a secondary position

21. The advantages of polysystem theory for translation studies according to Gentzler:

23. criticisms of polysystem theory

25. Influence of polysystem on Toury’s work The impetus for Toury’s work, including his notion of norms, came from the POLYSYSTEM approach developed in the early 1970s by his colleague ItamarEven Zohar. there are other aspects of the polysystem approach and of Even Zohar’s work in general which prepared the ground for Toury’s concept of norms and the research methodology which he went on to elaborate under the umbrella of ‘Descriptive Translation Studies’, or DTS for short.

26. These aspects include: A) an explicit refusal to make a priori statements about what translation is, what it should be, or what kinds of relationship a translated text should have with its original. B) an insistence on examining all translation related issues historically, in terms of the conditions which operate in the receiving culture at any point in time

27. References Munday, Jeremy, Introducing Translation Studies(2012) Encyclopedia Of Translation Studies(2013) Venuti, Lawrence, The Translation Studies Reader (2011) Kuhiwczak, Piotr and Littau, Karin, A Companion To Translation Studies(2007) Translation And The Classic(2008) Nam Fung Chang, In Defence Of Polysystem Theory(2010)