Polysystem theory

The polysystem theory, a theory in translation studies, implies using polyvalent factors as an instrument for explaining the complexity of culture within a single community and between communities. Analyzing sets of relations in literature and language, it gradually shifted towards a more complex analysis of socio-cultural systems.^[1]

The polysystem theory has been embraced by students of literature and culture all over the world,^[2] and has particularly gained attention in the field of Scandinavian studies.^[3]

Its foremost advocate is the Israeli linguist Itamar Even-Zohar.^[4] The American scholar Edwin Gentzler is another important contributor to this viewpoint.^[5]

Further reading

• Even-Zohar, Itamar. Polysystem Studies. Poetics Today 11.1 (1990)
• Aveling, Harry 2005. “Two Approaches to the Positioning of Translations: A Comparative Study of Itamar Even-Zohar's Polysystem Studies and Gideon Toury's Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond.” Kritika Kultura - A Refereed Electronic Journal of Literary/Cultural and Language Studies, No. 6, November 2005, pp. 6–25.
• Shuttleworth, Mark 2001. “Polysystem Theory”. In Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies, Mona Baker ed., Routledge: New York & London, pp. 176–179.
• Lambert, José 1997. "Itamar Even-Zohar's Polysystem Studies: An Interdisciplinary Perspective on Culture Research." Canadian Review of Comparative Literature / Revue Canadienne de Littérature Comparée, XXIV, No. 1, pp. 7–14.
• DIMIĆ, Milan V. 1993. "Polysystem Theory", in Makaryk, I. ed. Encyclopedia of Contemporary Literary Theory, University of Toronto Press, Toronto, pp. 151–155.
• McKelvey, Myles 2001. "Translating the Musical Les Misérables: A Polysystemic Approach." http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/MQ59267.pdf

References

1. 2005 Polysystem Theory Revised
2. Vasos comunicantes, page 22 (in Spanish) Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
3. Textual Production and Status Contests in Rising and Unstable Societies. Edited by Massimiliano Bampi and Marina Buzzoni, 59–70. Filologie medievali e moderne 59. Venezia: Edizioni Ca' Foscari, 2013.
4. Polysystem studies Archived 2011-12-18 at the Wayback Machine
5. Polysystem Theory from Routledge Encyclopaedia of Translation Studies