MILESTONES FOR A HISTORIOGRAPHY OF THE FRANCOPHONE TRANSLATION STUDIES FIELD

First, we identify the period before traductologie and then the issues of a historiography of translation studies, before grasping the debates around the term “translation studies” in the 1970s, in particular the motivations of the various equivalents suggested for Translation Studies (TS). In a second step, we refer to the precursors (1950s-1960s) and the pioneers (1980s and 1990s) of this French-language translation studies: what names emerge from this recent period and how have they advanced the reflection? Then we turn our attention to the problem of the translation of TS into French and translation studies into English. Finally, in order to define the socio-institutional dimension of the discipline, we study the parameters and factors that have favored and still favor this French-speaking translation studies, such as associations, training places and programs, recruitment bodies, as well as certain channels of dissemination (doctoral schools, research teams, journals, collections). Our final question focuses on the direct and indirect influences of French-speaking researchers in the humanities and social sciences on TS and translation studies. In conclusion, we focus on the notion of a “French-speaking translation area” and consider its relevance for a historiography in the making.