Outline of a sociology of translation informed by the ideas of Pierre Bourdieu

In this article I put forward a sociology of translation informed by the ideas of Pierre Bourdieu. Founded on a theory of action, this theory may be defined as a theory of translation practice. Translation practice is examined here through the study of the translation of symbolic goods, specifically American literature into French. The notions of ‘field’, ‘habitus’ and ‘illusio’ are briefly analysed and applied to American literature in French. The habitus of Marcel Duhamel and Maurice-Edgar Coindreau are examined, as well as the illusio specific to the science-fiction field. Bourdieusian sociology serves as a foundation for raising questions that are often discussed in translation studies but not dealt with in the article –questions of ethics, censorship, resistance, power...In this article I put forward a sociology of translation informed by the ideas of Pierre Bourdieu. Founded on a theory of action, this theory may be defined as a theory of translation practice. Translation practice is examined here through the study of the translation of symbolic goods, specifically American literature into French. The notions of ‘field’, ‘habitus’ and ‘illusio’ are briefly analysed and applied to American literature in French. The habitus of Marcel Duhamel and Maurice-Edgar Coindreau are examined, as well as the illusio specific to the science-fiction field. Bourdieusian sociology serves as a foundation for raising questions that are often discussed in translation studies but not dealt with in the article –questions of ethics, censorship, resistance, power... Dans cet article nous présentons une sociologie de la traduction informée par les idées de Pierre Bourdieu. Fondée sur une théorie de l’action pratique, cette théorie peut être définie comme une théorie de la pratique traductive. La pratique traductive est envisagée sur l’étude de la traduction de biens symboliques, spécifiquement de la littérature américaine en français. Sont brièvement analysées les notions de champ, d’habitus et d’illusio, appliquées à la littérature américaine en français. Les habitus de Marcel Duhamel et de Maurice-Edgar Coindreau sont examinés, ainsi que l’illusio propre au champ de la science-fiction. Sur ces notions de sociologie bourdieusienne, se greffent certaines questions qui se posent en traductologie mais ne sont pas traitées dans l’article, les questions de l’éthique, de la censure, de résistance, de pouvoir..