Being in the Beyond: Intersecting Translation Studies and Discourse Analysis
We invite submissions for the special issue Being in the Beyond: Intersecting Translation Studies and Discourse Analysis aiming to explore emerging contexts and innovative approaches within the realms of translation studies and discourse analysis, focusing on how each field informs and enhances the other. The issue intends to build on the ground provided by recent studies investigating the intricate relationship between Discourse Analysis, Translation and Interpretation (Munday and Calzada Peréz, 2020).
The dynamic and interdisciplinary field of Translation Studies today increasingly intersects with linguistic, social, cultural, ethical forms and genres of interpreting and mediation, reflecting its broadening scope and relevance (Baker, 2010). Its research extends beyond the traditional concerns of language transfer to encompass the digital technologies, such as machine translation and computer-assisted translation tools, and has led to new methodologies and frameworks for understanding translation processes and outcomes (O’Hagan, 2016).
Discourse analysis, on the other hand, explores how language is used in texts and contexts, and the functions it serves in constructing and shaping worldviews, social identities, and relationships (Paltridge, 2012). It provides critical insights into how meaning is constructed and communicated in different settings, and is particularly valuable in identifying and analysing power relations and ideologies, as they are expressed through language (Gee, 2014), all of which are crucial to translators who must navigate these elements when rendering texts across languages and cultures.
Translation Studies and Discourse Analysis share a profound common ground that enhances our understanding of how texts function in their original and translated forms, making it possible to explore nuances of meaning, intention, and reception in ways that are mutually informative. Their intersection thus offers a fertile field for exploring how translated texts function within various discursive contexts, and how discourse analysis can inform the practice and theory of translation. This meeting point is crucial for understanding the complexities of cross-cultural communication and the role of translation in shaping and reflecting social and cultural identities (Munday, 2012).
In translation studies, discourse analysis can provide tools for examining the pragmatic and sociolinguistic aspects of translation, such as how translators negotiate meaning, handle cultural references, and maintain coherence and cohesion in translated texts (House, 2015). It also aids in the analysis of different genres and text types, highlighting the specific challenges and strategies involved in translating various kinds of discourse, with the focus on the analysis of terminology used by different discourse communities, being just one among the various approaches used (Cf. Trosborg, 2000; House, 2014).
Conversely, translation studies can enrich discourse analysis by offering insights into the translation process as a form of recontextualization, where texts are adapted to new linguistic and cultural environments (Venuti, 2017). This perspective can deepen our understanding of how discourses travel across languages and cultures, how they are transformed in the process, and how these transformations impact the reception and interpretation of translated texts (Baker, 2018).
In light of this, this special issue is guided by the following set of research questions:
- How does the function of translation influence the construction and interpretation of meaning in different linguistic contexts?
- How does discourse analysis help in understanding the pragmatic strategies translators use to negotiate meaning and handle cultural references?
- In what ways can translation studies inform discourse analysis through the concept of recontextualization in the adaptation of texts to new linguistic and cultural environments?
- How do translators negotiate and manage cultural references and specific terminologies from different discourse communities during the translation process?
We welcome contributions that explore the interconnections between the following areas of research:
- Translation: semiotic, intralingual, interlingual, intersemiotic, ecological, for tourism, audiovisual, multimodal, multilingual, digital, machine-assisted or AI based;
- Discourse Analysis: ecolinguistic, political, audiovisual, for tourism, multilingual, multimodal.
Authors wishing to take part in this special issue are invited to submit full articles for double-blind peer review, by 30 March 2026, directly to Linguae & at the following link: https://journals.uniurb.it/index.php/linguae/about/submissions
Submitted articles, should also include an abstract of 120-150 words summarizing the main arguments and the conclusions, as well as five keywords. For further details we ask that you refer to the link above or contact the guest editors Vivian M. De La Cruz and Laura Diamanti at beinginthebeyond@gmail.com.
Authors will receive notification of the eventual acceptance of their submitted articles, and the accepted articles will be published in Issue Number 2 of December 2026.
Bibliographic References
Baker, M. (2018). In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation 3rd Ed. London and New York: Routledge.
Baker, M. (2010). Critical Readings in Translation Studies. London and New York: Routledge.
Gee, J. P. (2014). An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and Method. London and New York: Routledge.
House, J. (2015). Translation Quality Assessment: Past and Present. London and New York: Routledge.
House, J. (2014). Translation: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, and London: Palgrave Advances in Language and Linguistics.
Munday, J. (2012). Evaluation in Translation: Critical Points of Translator Decision-Making. London and New York: Routledge.
Munday, J. & Calzada Pérez, M. (2020). New contexts in discourse analysis for translation and interpretation. Meta, 65(1), 5–8. https://doi.org/10.7202/1073633ar
O’Hagan, M. (2016). Massively Open Translation: Unpacking the relationship between technology and translation in the 21st century. International Journal of Communication (10), 929-946.
Paltridge, Brian (2012). An Introduction to Discourse Analysis. 2nd ed. London: Bloomsbury.
Trosborg, A. (2000). Analysing Professional Genres. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing.
Venuti, L. (2017). The Translator's Invisibility: A History of Translation. London and New York: Routledge.