earticle

영어

One of the major lines of inquiry that scholars and researchers in Translation Studies have pursued since the beginning of the discipline in modern times concerns the motivations behind the choices and decisions made by translators. In ways different from linguistic and pedagogical approaches to this question, Descriptive Translation Studies(DTS) has focussed more on the input and output ends of the translation process as an object of direst observation. This paper starts with an overview of the various approaches in this field of research before proceeding to discuss in some depth some advantages of DTS in acquiring insight into the nature and function of translation as a cultural and historical phenomenon. Two distinct merits of DTS are identified: one with its view of translators as an active social agent, and the other with its emphasis on larger social and ideological structures in explaining norms. The lack of DTS-based research in today's Korea is noted before, by way of concluding, a couple of seemingly fruitful future research directions are suggested.