The Hegemony of the English Language: Translation Theory and the Canadian Tradition

Abstract

The Canadian tradition is significantly absent from translation theory. The Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies along with theorists like Lawrence Venuti and Theo Hermans outline an Anglo-American tradition which serves to maintain hegemonic tendencies. At its most fundamental level, publishing economics point to a one directional movement of language from English into other languages, via translation, rather than the other way around. What the discussion of the Anglo-American tradition ignores is the case of Canada. While Canada is unique in terms of its particular language dynamics, it remains reflective of the tendencies of the English language on its largest scale. This paper will examine the Canadian claim to bilingualism and the integration of two official languages. The relationship between these two languages and the associated translation practices prove to position English in the dominant position within Canada. Translation theory within Canada is important because it, within its own borders, mirrors the global trend of translation. Canadian translation statistics, in conjunction with the examination of the translation profession within Canada points to a decidedly similar one directional movement of the English language, serving the hegemonic agenda it possesses on its global scale.