TRANSLATION AND CENSORSHIP: THE SPANISH ENLIGHTENMENT TRANSLATESTHE SCOTTISH ENLIGHTENMENT

Abstract

In the 18th century, the English language and the British Enlightenment are marginal in the intellectual map of the Spanish enlightened minority, which relies on the cultural interests of France and on second hand translations from French into Spanish. In addition, Spanish cultural life is restricted by censorship, which is exerted in the first place by diverse state institutions and authorities: although the new Spanish Monarchy aims for a wide range of reforms in the country and its transatlantic colonies, it is not willing to threaten the traditional establishment and it carefully ponders over the fluctuations taking place in the international balance of power. Then there is another kind of censorship, which is exerted by ecclesiastical institutions directly opposed to any kind of reformism, enlightened or else. Accordingly, any scholar willing to render something into the Spanish language will be very cautious in his choice for a translation, and will grant himself a considerable scope of intervention in his translating task: “updating”, “commenting”, “adapting” and even “correcting” any original text are ordinary occupational tactics. These are the general context and conditions for the translation into Spanish of specific contributions of the Scottish Enlightenment, such as William Robertson's History of America or Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations.