The European Society for Translation Studies is concerned and dismayed by the systematic downgrading of Translation Studies journals in the 2011 lists released by the European Science Foundation.
The 2011 ERIH lists place journals in three ranks: INT1 (international with high visibility), INT2 (international with significant visibility), and NAT (of significance in a particular country)
The 2007 and 2011 ranks for Translation Studies journals are as follows:
| Name of journal | 2007 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Across Languages and Cultures | INT2 | INT2 |
| Babel. Revue internationale de la traduction | INT2 | INT2 |
| Hermeneus | NAT | NAT |
| Hermes | NAT | NAT |
| Interpreting | INT1 | INT2 |
| Journal of Specialised Translation | INT2 | INT2 |
| Linguistica Antverpiensia New Series | NAT | NAT |
| Machine Translation | INT1 | INT1 |
| Meta | INT1 | INT2 |
| Perspectives | INT2 | NAT |
| Quaderns: Revista de traducció | NAT | NAT |
| Target | INT1 | INT1 |
| Translation and Literature | INT2 | INT2 |
| TTR – Traduction, Terminologie et Redaction | INT1 | INT2 |
| The Translator | INT1 | INT1 |
It is difficult to understand why some journals are downgraded to or remain stuck in the ‘national’ category when they have editorial boards and/or advisory boards that are international. Likewise, it is absolutely unclear why some other journals were downgraded from INT1 to INT2.
In view of this systematic lack of recognition, following its general concern for the poor ratings of Translation Studies journals, and in support of similar complaints by the Canadian Association of Translation Studies, the European Society for Translation Studies takes the following measures:
- We urge the European Science Foundation to establish a category for Translation Studies as a discipline, as they have done for Gender Studies, Classical Studies, and Religious Studies.
- We insist that any committee evaluating Translation Studies journal include some members who are experts in Translation Studies.
- We urge our members not to use the ERIH lists for “bibliometric information or assessment processes of individual candidates, be it for positions, promotions, research grant awards etc.” (as ERIH itself requests).
European Society for Translation Studies
June 5, 2011
Further information: