On the ethics of translators' interventions 1

[AnthonyPym]

There is nothing cheeky about arguing against fascist theories that would have translators purify the tribe's narratives,

And not much is just cheeky when the people ousted by those narrative theories are sitting in front of you (Toury and Shlesinger).

And they have all just read in the abstract that I am speaking from an anti-Israeli position.

No, there were some sound and careful reasons for the detours.

[freelancer0108]

"It's a very easy answer but because I have to be academic and I have to make up some minutes, I'm going to go through 7 bad ways of answering it before I answer it."

That has to be my quote of the year so far. How many other translation theorists could get away with that? ;-)

[AnthonyPym]

I'm not sure I did get away with it. (Gideon Toury and Itamar Even-Zohar were sitting somewhere to my left...)

[freelancer0108]

Just tell them that Ian Mason used to tell his students that he would spend three weeks on common-but-wrong translation theories and show us why they didn't work. His reasoning: so we could talk more intelligently about translation than non-professionals. So admitting that you will give 7 bad answers before getting to the good one has a precedent.

Are you always so cheeky in your presentations and work? I would have thought it would get you in trouble or does being a professor make you exempt?