Transposition as an act of translation in science popularization: the species of Darwin and darwinism between imperfection of words and academic exploitation

Abstract

This paper investigates linguistic issues involved in the processes of the popularization of sciences intended as an act of translation. With the intent to raise the awareness about the linguistic and cognitive implications of the dissemination of sciences among a large audience, we investigate an illustrative case of the non-academic propagation of Charles Darwinís theories. Commenting on the use and understanding of terms as species and Darwinism, we suggest that the popularization of sciences involves necessarily a loss of information and, in certain cases, an arbitrary interpretation of original works. In conclusion we argue that popularization of sciences is an act of interpretation ñ carried out by both the translator and the recipients ñ and not just a ìneutralî transposition of ideas. Accordingly, transposition should be considered as a form of translation and, as such ruled and formalized.