Richard Pleijel

Frihet under ansvar? Bibelöversättning som institutionell praktik

Introduction

Frihet under ansvar? bibelöversättning som institutionell praktik. Analys av frihet under ansvar i institutionell bibelöversättning. En svensk bibelnyöversättning (1972) belyser relationen mellan struktur, agens och bibelvetenskap.

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss the relationship between structure and agency in institutional translation. My case is a Swedish retranslation of the biblical texts commenced in 1972. Against the background of the directives issued to the translators, and through a case study of how three Old Testament texts were translated by the team, I argue that the team members bypassed certain aspects of the directives. This, however, was not primarily because they exercised their individual agency, but because they collectively related their work to the abstract institution of biblical studies, which can be conceived of as a belief system which structured the interpretation and translation of the biblical texts. The case is hereby discussed to critically assess the relationship between agency and structure, and to suggest a non-binary way of understanding the relationship between the two.

Review

This paper presents a compelling examination of the interplay between structure and agency within institutional translation, using the intriguing case of the Swedish retranslation of biblical texts from 1972. The author proposes to analyze this dynamic by reviewing the initial directives given to the translation team and conducting a detailed case study of their translation choices for three Old Testament texts. A central argument advanced is that while the team did bypass certain aspects of the directives, this was not primarily due to individual translator agency, but rather a collective orientation towards the broader, abstract institution of biblical studies, conceptualized as a structuring belief system. The overarching goal is to critically assess the traditional structure-agency dichotomy and suggest a more nuanced, non-binary understanding of their relationship. The chosen case study, a biblical retranslation, is highly relevant and fertile ground for exploring the complex forces at play in institutional translation, particularly given the strong interpretive traditions associated with such texts. The methodological approach, combining an analysis of institutional directives with empirical textual analysis, promises a robust foundation for the theoretical claims. The paper's strength lies in its ambition to move beyond simplistic notions of individual autonomy, instead emphasizing the collective influence of disciplinary norms and shared belief systems within a specialized professional community. By identifying "biblical studies" as a structuring force, the author offers a sophisticated framework for understanding collective decision-making and the limits of individual agency in highly specialized translation contexts, addressing the provocative question posed in the title, "Frihet under ansvar?". While the abstract provides a strong theoretical and methodological outline, a full appreciation of the paper would benefit from a deeper dive into several areas. Specifically, the paper would be strengthened by illustrating the precise nature of the "bypassed aspects" of the directives with concrete examples from the three Old Testament texts. Furthermore, a more explicit articulation of how "the abstract institution of biblical studies" functions as a "belief system" and how it specifically *structured* interpretation and translation choices would enrich the argument. Demonstrating the mechanisms through which the proposed non-binary understanding of structure and agency is empirically manifested, rather than simply asserted, will be crucial for the paper's theoretical impact. Overall, this paper promises a significant and thought-provoking contribution to the theoretical discussions surrounding agency, structure, and institutional practice in translation studies.

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