Developmental (semio) translations between approval and disapproval

Abstract This study is an attempt to pinpoint the mutual relationships between translation and development in modern Iran and the dynamics involved over the past 100 years. Adopting a sociosemiotic perspective, the relevant data gathered is dealt with in terms of insights from both development and Translation Studies. A new set of mental and material interlingual and intersemiotic phenomena throughout two separate, yet interconnected, time intervals specified is introduced as developmental (semio) translations. The results indicate that throughout the past 100 years, approaches to socio-economic, as well as cultural, development have contributed to the quantity and quality of (semio) translations, and (semio) translations too have contributed to the improvement of the indices of development across Iran. The findings of the research highlight the fact that translating from European languages in modern Iran has been instrumental in improving the indices mentioned and proved fruitful in enriching the national language, Persian. Yet, this has also provoked some cultural as well as linguistic challenges among more conservative, traditional elites. Translation as a whole, however, did play a monumental role in establishing a large number of the concepts and values introduced by the relevant literature in developmental approaches.