The term translation has long been used in sociology, prominently within the tradition known as Actor-network theory

Actor-network theory

Actor–network theory, often abbreviated as ANT, is a distinctive approach to social theory and research which originated in the field of science studies...

 (ANT).

Within ANT, the term translation has a different meaning compared to other areas. The term is used in association with the term network, and signifies the process that allows a network to be represented by a single entity, which can in itself be an individual or another network.

In 1986, Michel Callon

Michel Callon

Michel Callon is a Professor of Sociology at the Ecole des Mines de Paris and member of the Centre de Sociologie de l'Innovation. He is an influential author in the field of Science and Technology Studies and one of the leading proponents of Actor-network theory with Bruno Latour.In recent years ,...

 published the seminal article "Some elements of a sociology of translation", in which he summarized the process of translation as four 'moments' or phases.

• Problematization
• Interessement
  Interessement
  The term 'interessement' is French-English, and is synonymous with the word 'interposition'.The term was first used by Michel Callon. It is used within the scientific tradition known as Actor-network theory, in association with translation and the formation of networks...
  
  
• Enrolment
• Mobilization
  Resource mobilization
  Resource mobilization is a major sociological theory in the study of social movements which emerged in the 1970s. It stresses the ability of movement's members to 1) acquire resources and to 2) mobilize people towards accomplishing the movement's goals...