Power and Translation: Subversion or Empowerment

Power is a theme approached from different theoretical viewpoints in sociology. Any social actor or social entity adopts power in some way. Translation as a language based and socio-cultural action is closely related with power and has been affected by power relations. Translators as social actors may also use power to enforce certain ideas or certain ideologies. However, it should be noted that power is not just a negative, coercive or repressive thing that forces us to do things against our wishes, but it can also be a necessary, productive and positive force in society. This study reviewed different works conducted in translation field on the relation of power and translation. Focusing on the theories and ideas of important figures such as Foucault about power relations in the society, this study attempted to get a better understanding about the role of power in translation and elaborate the question of power as subversive or empowering tool in translation. Results of this review indicated that power could be applied in different forms in translation and by translators and influence the recipient culture in a special way.