Abstract
When it comes to system-oriented approaches to translation studies, the first name coming to mind is usually Itamar Even-Zohar with his poly-system theory. On the other hand, Theo Hermans did not only analyse system-oriented approaches to translation studies in his book Translation in Systems but he also offered a different point of view for translation studies by applying systems theory of German sociologist Niklas Luhmann to issues of translation. This article aims at studying Hermans’ criticism and interpretation of previous systemic approaches and his opinions in the aforesaid book on why and how Luhmann’s systems theory, which has actually been of limited concern in the filed of sociology of translation, can be utilised in translation studies. In this context, Hermans’ criticism of poly-system theory and his views about the drawbacks of the mentioned theory will be examined. It will also be scrutinised how the terms borrowed from sociology are reflected to the study of translation and how far they spanned the boundaries of the translation studies. Hence, the effects of sociology on translation studies, as a field open to interdisciplinary relations, will be argued within the framework of Luhmann’s systems theory.