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Article published In: Babel
Vol. 67:6 (2021) ► pp.819–844

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Revisiting translation in the age of digital globalization

The “going global” of Chinese web fiction through overseas volunteer translation websites

 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Published online: 7 December 2021
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https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.00248.wu
Abstract
Globalization has gone digital and presents a new type of connectivity virtually today. Digital globalization has transformed the landscape of translation theory and practice, exerting considerable influence on translation studies and the profession of translators. The translation practice evolves with the change of literary expectations driven by the digital revolution. New translation modes have been cultivated by incorporating two essential features of the age, known as technology and participation. Against this backdrop, Chinese web fiction is going global with establishing and developing overseas volunteer translation websites. With this in mind, this paper analyzes the translation model of Chinese web fiction with respect to digital globalization and argues that the fan-based volunteer translation has emerged as a new paradigm that features the “user participation turn” in translation studies.
Résumé
La mondialisation est devenue numérique, et présente aujourd’hui un nouveau type de connectivité virtuelle. La mondialisation numérique a transformé le paysage de la théorie et de la pratique de la traduction en exerçant une influence considérable sur les études ainsi que sur le métier de traducteur. La pratique de la traduction évolue avec le changement des attentes littéraires induites par la révolution numérique. Ainsi, de nouveaux modes de traduction ont été cultivés en incorporant deux caractéristiques essentielles de notre époque : la technologie et la participation. Dans ce contexte, la Web-fiction chinoise se mondialise avec la création et le développement de sites de traduction volontaires à l’extérieur de la Chine. Dans cet esprit, cet article examine le modèle de traduction de la Web-fiction chinoise sous le prisme de la mondialisation numérique, et affirme que la traduction volontaire par les fans apparaît comme un nouveau paradigme qui caractérise le « tournant de participation des utilisateurs » pour la traduction.
Article outline
  • Translation and digital globalization: A participatory perspective
  • Chinese web fiction going global: The development of overseas volunteer translation websites
  • Participation-driven and oriented: The translation model of Chinese web fiction
    • Interactivity in translation
    • Visibility of the translator
    • Collaboration in translation
  • The Use of machine translation (MT)
  • Concluding remarks: Chinese culture going global digitally through translation
  • Notes
  • References
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