Translation studies and comparative literature: Conflict and complementarity

Abstract

Translation Studies had in its beginnings, a complex relationship with Comparative Literature, marked by conflict and complementarity, as many of its founders came from literary studies, and some of Comparative Literature itself. Over the past four decades, we can distinguish two main trends occurring unevenly in both disciplines. On the one hand, Translation Studies experienced a robust growth, with expansion of its research objects and certain detachment of literary studies. On the other hand, Comparative Literature has been gradually opening to the translation phenomenon and the very discipline of Translation Studies. The initial conflict disappeared and the dialogue was restricted to a portion of Translation Studies, which we might call the Literary Translation Studies and Comparative Literature. This is particularly true in Brazil, where literary translation studies occupy an important space in graduate programs, particularly in the specific programs of translation studies.