Mediation - Translation & Interpretation - and language awareness: of the resilient ‘old’ in the ‘new’

Abstract

This paper proposes the inclusion of a reflexive element into the concept of ‘language mediation’ in the didactics of additional languages, in which a non-essentialist conception of language should be given preference. It is noticeable that in the current discussion one falls back on anachronic conceptions of ‘translation’, a fact that leads to an inadequate perception of the process and makes it difficult to (re-) take it into account in language didactics. The argument is based on long term practical experience, coupled with considerable theoretical production in the relevant areas.

Keywords:
language mediation; translation studies; philosophy of language