"Unfaithful to the translation" (Borges): On special in specialised translation

This chapter focuses on specialised translation from the perspective of what different areas within it have in common and what makes it special and distinctive, rendering it a worthwhile profession for the large number of translators that make it a fulfilling, lifelong activity. This “special” thread is intertwined with a sketch of Federica Scarpa’s contribution to specialised translation as relevant translation studies evolved – from functional theories to the cultural turn when pragmatic and quality concerns started taking centre stage, and beyond, to what seems to be the current technological turn. The underlying assumption is that specialised translation is essentially governed by the requirements of communication in the target language and culture and as such it is the original that can end up being unfaithful to the translation and not vice versa.