TRANSLATION STUDIES AS A FUNCTIONAL AND EMPIRICAL DISCIPLINE: LANGUAGE, TEXT, AND INTERCULTURAL MEDIATION IN THE GERMAN TRANSLATION TRADITION
Abstract
: This article reconsiders Translation Studies as a multidisciplinary and empirical field that operates at the intersection of language, text, communication, and intercultural mediation. The study focuses on the theoretical foundations of the German school of Translation Studies, particularly the contributions of Katharina Reiß, Hans J. Vermeer, Christiane Nord, Juliane House, and the Leipzig tradition. The article distinguishes between translation as a cognitive process and translation as a textual product, emphasizing the importance of functional equivalence, textual coherence, communicative intention, and audience orientation. Translation is approached not merely as linguistic transfer but as a purposeful communicative act shaped by context, culture, and pragmatic function. The research also examines methodological boundaries within Translation Studies and explores how empirical analysis contributes to quality assessment, translator competence, and pedagogical development. Through theoretical synthesis, this article proposes a language-and-text-centered model capable of integrating linguistic, cultural, and functional dimensions of translation.