Classic Definitions:
* Friedrich Schleiermacher (1813): Proposed two approaches: "foreignizing" (bringing the reader to the foreign text) and "domesticating" (bringing the foreign text to the reader).
* Eugene Nida (1964): Emphasized dynamic equivalence, aiming for the same effect on the target reader as the source text had on the original audience, regardless of literal accuracy.
* Roman Jakobson (1959): Defined three types of translation: Intralingual (within a language), Interlingual (between languages), and Intersemiotic (between systems of signs, e.g. text to film).
Modern Perspectives:
* Lawrence Venuti (1995): Focuses on the politics of translation, arguing that "invisibility" often favors a domesticating approach, making the translated text seem more natural and less foreign.
* Susan Bassnett (1980): Emphasizes the cultural context of translation, seeing it as a process of negotiation between cultures.
* André Lefevere (1992): Examines the power dynamics in translation, arguing that it's influenced by patronage, ideology, and the translator's own positionality.
Specific Approaches:
* Postcolonial translation: Explores the role of translation in representing marginalized cultures and languages.
* Feminist translation: Critiques gender bias in translation and aims for more inclusive and equitable representations.
* Literary translation: Focuses on translating literary texts, often prioritizing aesthetic quality and stylistic nuance.
Beyond Definitions:
* Translation is a complex and dynamic process, involving linguistic, cultural, and ideological factors.
* Different approaches to translation are often used simultaneously, reflecting the nuanced nature of the task.
* The definition of translation itself is constantly evolving, as new theories and practices emerge.
Ultimately, the "best" definition of translation depends on the context and the specific purpose of the translation.
This is just a brief overview of some key ideas. To delve deeper into specific authors and their perspectives on translation, you can explore their work and research articles on the topic.