Defensive and Defective Stance in Translation and Translation Criticism in Latvia between the Wars (1918-1940)

Latvia's independence period saw translations on a massive scale. The range of source languages was growing, with English overtaking German (German was also the main intermediary language). The literature translated was also extremely varied, as was quality. The choice of works to be translated was in the hands of translators and publishers, who thought of marketing interests. The agents of translation (translators and publishers) pursued mainly defective stance in translation, while criticism staunchly supported defensive stance. Translations always numerically surpassed native production in the domain of novels. The variety of translation scene came to an abrupt end with the soviet occupation.