This course examines theoretical developments in the field of Translation Studies from the late 1980s to the present day. First, it considers the linguistic approach to translation that held sway for much of the first half and more of the 20th century. Attention then shifts to how culture impacts not just the translated product, but also the process by which translators operate (the so-called ‘cultural turn’). Focus is on close readings of formative theoretical texts (for example, those by Bassnett, Lefevere, Pym, Venuti and others). Students will critically engage with significant translation theories since the late 1980s, analyse translations to identify how these theories function, and consider how they influence their own translation practice.