Peripheries vs. Centers: the case of translation studies in Finland

Abstract

The article analyzes the history of translation studies (TS) in Finland from its beginnings to the present with the help of the polysystem theory, while also examining the impact of various individuals and communities on the development of the Finnish TS tradition. My analysis indicates that the “centrality” of Finnish researchers in translation studies — which was particularly visible before the discipline went global in the 2010s — can be explained by some general trends in European higher learning, but even more than that by the strong relations that Finnish translation scholars have had with local translation professionals, international colleagues, and, last but not least, each other.