NON-HUMAN ACTORS IN THE PROFESSIONAL AREA FOR TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS IN TURKEY: A LENS INTO THE SECTOR THROUGH ACTOR-NETWORK THEORY

Authors : Burçin Kef

Pages : 74-91

Doi:10.48131/jscs.1486868

View : 64 | Download : 67

Publication Date : 2024-12-29

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :This paper examines the current status of the translation profession in Turkey through the lens of the primary actors involved in the professional area. It evaluates the institutions, organizations, and companies operating in the field from the perspective of non-human actors as conceptualized by sociologist Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory. In Turkey, various institutions, organizations, and businesses undertake professional activities and prepare translator candidates for the profession, while certain regulatory legislations and related laws contribute to the development of the profession. Each of these entities functions as non-human actors influencing the interactions and relationships of human actors within the translation field. This paper conducts a general examination of the sector, discussing the contributions of existing actors to professional activities and identifying the missing actors. It further explores how the integration of these missing actors, such as regulatory bodies like professional chambers and certification authorities, and legal frameworks like professional laws, could address fundamental issues such as specialization and oversight. The paper argues that the presence of these non-human actors could allow market actors to form new alliances and networks as outlined in actor-network theory, facilitate the employment of specialist translators, and potentially lead to some existing actors withdrawing from the networks. Additionally, these non-human actors could play a mediating role in the employment of specialist translators by companies, ultimately contributing significantly to the profession\\\'s development.
Keywords : çeviri, insan dışı aktörler, aktör-ağ kuramı, meslek, ağ