Emma Wagner Book order

The book presents a conversation between a theoretical scholar and a professional translator, exploring the practical applications of translation theory. It examines whether theoretical frameworks can enhance the translator's craft, addressing the gap between academic insights and real-world translation challenges. Through their dialogue, the authors assess the relevance and impact of theory on the translation process, ultimately questioning its role in professional practice.

This revised edition of Memes of Translation includes updates that relate the book's themes to more recent research in Translation Studies. The book contributes to the debate about whether it is worth seeking a coherent theory of translation, by proposing an approach based on norms, strategies and values, which are all seen as kinds of memes, i.e. ideas that spread. The meme metaphor allows us to see translation in the context of cultural evolution, and also highlights similarities with the philosopher Karl Popper's analysis of another kind of evolution: that of scientific knowledge. A translation is, after all, itself a theory - a theory about the source text. And as Popper stressed, theories of all kinds are like nets we make in order to catch something of reality: never perfectly, but always in the hope of better understanding.

The idea of recovery is that people learn to live with the past and with their imperfections, and find positive steps forward that work for them. Whole Person Recovery (WPR) aims to co-design treatment with the addict, build 'recovery capital', and maximise chances of success by supporting the addict to take control of their recovery.

Presents a dialogue between a theoretical scholar and a professional translator, about the usefulness of translation theory. The authors argue about the problem of the translator's identity, the history of the translator's role, the translator's visibility, translation types and strategies, translation quality, ethics, and translation aids.