The symposium seeks to understand how the discipline and scientific thinking on it has evolved in this region as Translation Studies appears to be dominated by Western, especially Western European, traditions. This has been criticized by many Translation Studies scholars who also underline the importance of readdressing this imbalance (e.g.: Baker 1998; Tymoczko 2010).

In recent years there have been an increasing number of research initiatives to also include non-Western perspectives in Translation Studies and enlarge Western translation theory (e.g. Tymoczko 2003; Cheung 2006; Wakabayashi/Kothari 2009). Furthermore, there have been special issues in leading Translation Studies journals dedicated to the decentering of Translation Studies, such as the TIS 2011 special issue on Eurocentrism or Western approaches to Translation (Studies) or the Translator’s 2009 special issues on nation and translation in the Middle East and Chinese discourses on translation.

A look at our literature, as well as our past and upcoming Translation Studies conferences, shows that Eastern European perspectives have so far hardly been integrated into our discipline. Hence, the upcoming event is an effort towards making these voices heard.

The focus of this symposium will be both on the differences and similarities in the evolution of Translation Studies and academic reflections on translation between Eastern Europe and Western Europe.

For details visit the symposium website: http://translationtraditions.univie.ac.at/welcome/