Traditionally, theories of translation have proved to be source-oriented in the sense that they have the source-text with its source-linguistic code and its source system as their main point of reference. These theories have, in general, given primacy to the source-text over the target text and its configurations, which resulted in highly normative, prescriptive, source-oriented (only) accounts of translational phenomena. The target-text is neglected and translations are reduCed to transpositions of linguistic systems. These trànspositions; in turn, are evaluated in terms of 'correctness' , according to norms previously established. Moreover, the principies underlying source-oriented theories are based on hypothetical translations, rather than actual existing ones.
