Translation Directionality from the Viewpoint of Iranian Scholars

Abstract

Western Translation Studies has been traditionally oversensitive to translation into the second language, and in practice the rule of thumb has it that translation should always be done into the translator's first language. This article is the analysis of the present views on translation directionality in Iran with reference to implications of such views. Iranian scholars recognize L2 translation as an accepted activity as well as the marked direction of translation with an emphasis on a scholarly knowledge of the target language. This study reviews a number of ideas on the disapproval of L2 translation and the necessity of translating into the first language. This results in the marginalization of one direction and centralization of the other. Finally, it is argued that some Iranian scholars maintain that an erudite and scholarly native knowledge should supersede an ordinary native knowledge of the target language which is the result of the interplay between the two former factors.