Sci&Tech History

Another approach to describe how knowledge spread is by using translation models. Its concept can be observed by seeing how messenger RNA(mRNA) in a bacteria E.Coli works. The knowledge or information that was initiated by someone won’t spread and accepted, if there isn’t an agreement from the others. Translation process occur in sociology of translation, and also referred to Actor Network Theory(ANT). In ANT terminology, human and non-human is called an actor(or actant).

Callon categorize translation process into four stages. First, problematization stage, in which actors identified and persuaded to aligning themselves in a new network that might provide solutions to their problems. In this stage, obligatory passage point(OPP) should be negotiated. The second stage is called interessement, where actors are locked by others actors into prescribed roles so that the old networks might dissolve and a new network might emerge. The third stage is enrolment where the identity of the network is achieved through consent, seduction, or even coercion. The final stage is mobilization, where the establish representation delegations are assured and the fear of betrayal is removed.

The four stages of this translation can we found if we bought something in the market. Actors that involve in this buying process are consumer (we), producer, things that we want to buy, and money as an intermediary(others actors that will be neglected for the sake of simplicity). In the first stage, problematization for the actors is we have to make a transaction. OPP for this situation are the market, and policy that guarantee the legal process of the transaction.

In interessement stage, consumer want to get things that they need, and the producer want to get the money. Both of them want to get profit as much as possible. In enrolment stage, their interest are coordinated and aligned with bargaining, or in a modern market by decided what product they will buy after compare one product than another. The final process is transaction; the consumers go home with things that they bought and the producer get money. Establish representation delegations are assured by the moving of things and money from producer to consumer, vice versa.

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