The indeterminateness of archival translation

Abstract

Archival science is suffering a radical change, often written in English. For non English-speaking communities, this implies the need for a translation of the most relevant archival texts. However, this poses several challenges and difficulties: different disciplinary communities, different uses of terms by different English-speaking communities, and different understandings, associated to different national traditions. In this regard, this text suggests several examples, as well as potential risks derived from a bad or poor understanding. In the same way, it explores some of the answers proposed by archival researchers, particularly essays published by Eric Ketelaar. According to this background, and on the basis of the Quine´s theory of indeterminateness, this text suggests two approaches to the problem: a sound ethnographical study of socio-cultural environments associated to different archival terms and discourses, as well as a deep conceptual analysis of some of the most relevant concepts in modern archival science.