Professor Newmark was one of the main figures in the founding of Translation Studies in the English-speaking world from the 1980s. He is widely read through a series of accessible and occasionally polemical works, the titles of which are as straightforward as the man himself: A Textbook of Translation (1988), Paragraphs on Translation (1989), About Translation (1991), More Paragraphs on Translation (1998).
From the early 1980s, Professor Newmark was associated with the founding and development of the Centre for Translation Studies at Surrey. He was chair of the editorial board of the Journal of Specialised Translation. He also wrote “Translation Now” bimonthly for The Linguist and was Vice-President, Council member, Editorial Board Member of Institute of Linguists.
Professor Newmark cared passionately about language, civilisation, and respect for great texts. His views were generally conservative, but always offered in the spirit of lively public debate.
Generations of students and scholars have built up a stock of Newmark anecdotes. He first earned my own admiration when I saw him take off his shoes to listen to a lecture (admittedly he was at the back of the lecture hall).
He is much missed.
Anthony Pym
July 2011
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