Generalized translation operator and approximation in several variables

Generalized translation operators for orthogonal expansions with respect to families of weight functions on the unit ball and on the standard simplex are studied. They are used to define convolution structures and modulus of smoothness for these regions, which are in turn used to characterize the best approximation by polynomials in the weighted L p spaces. In one variable, this becomes the generalized translation operator for the Gegenbauer polynomial expansions.