Cover not available

Article published In: Babel
Vol. 71:5 (2025) ► pp.658–678

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
EPUB logo with download linkDownload EPUB
authorization required

The socialness of translation and the translationality of society

 | Shanghai University
 | Yunnan University of Finance and Economics
ORCiD logo with link | Wuxi Taihu University
Published online: 8 May 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.24245.fu
Abstract
Translation is inextricably woven into the fabric of society, both shaped by and shaping the societal contexts in which it operates. This intrinsic connection underscores the inherent socialness of translation. Yet, the interplay between translation and society is not unidirectional; societal existence and evolution are, to varying degrees, contingent upon translation, suggesting a fundamental translationality within social structures. This study examines the multifaceted manifestations of translation’s socialness, evident in its outputs, methodologies, roles, and underlying values. Concurrently, it explores society’s translational qualities, particularly in interpersonal exchanges, knowledge creation and dissemination, societal advancement, and global governance mechanisms. The research further posits that the socialness of translation and the translationality of society engage in a complex dance of mutual reinforcement and potential impediment. By advocating for a more nuanced integration of perspectives from translation studies and sociology, this paper aims to deepen our understanding of the intricate relationship between translation and society, thereby advancing the emerging field of sociological translation studies.
Résumé
La traduction est indissociablement liée au tissu social, à la fois façonnée par les contextes sociétaux dans lesquels elle opère et exerçant en retour une influence sur ceux-ci. Cette interdépendance souligne la nature foncièrement sociale de la traduction. Cependant, l’interaction entre traduction et société n’est pas unidirectionnelle : l’existence et l’évolution des sociétés dépendent, à des degrés divers, de la traduction, révélant ainsi une translationalité inhérente aux structures sociales. Cette étude examine les multiples manifestations de la socialité de la traduction, visibles à travers ses productions, ses méthodologies, ses fonctions et ses valeurs sous-jacentes. Parallèlement, elle explore les qualités translationelles de la société, en particulier dans les échanges interpersonnels, la création et la diffusion des savoirs, le progrès sociétal et les mécanismes de gouvernance mondiale. L’analyse met en évidence la manière dont la socialité de la traduction et la translationalité de la société s’engagent dans une dynamique complexe d’influences réciproques, pouvant tantôt se renforcer, tantôt se contrarier. En prônant une intégration plus nuancée de perspectives empruntées à la traductologie et à la sociologie, cet article vise à approfondir la compréhension du lien complexe entre traduction et société, contribuant ainsi à l’essor du champ émergeant de la sociologie de la traduction.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Methodology
  • Linguistic and cultural translation studies
  • Sociological translation studies and limitation of current researches
  • Socialness of translation
  • Translationality of society
  • Conclusion
  • References
References (65)
References
Baer, Brian James. 2023. “Cultural Approaches.” In The Routledge Handbook of Translation Theory and Concepts, edited by Reine Meylaerts and Kobus Marais, 224–240. London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Baker, Mona, and Gabriela Saldanha. 2008. Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. London: Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bassnett, Susan, and Harish Trivedi. 2012. Postcolonial Translation: Theory and Practice. London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bernardini, Silvia, and Adriano Ferraresi. 2022. “Corpus Linguistics.” In The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Methodology, edited by Federico Zanettin and Christopher Rundle, 207–222. London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bianchi, Diana. 2022. “Cultural Studies.” In The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Methodology, edited by Federico Zanettin and Christopher Rundle, 62–77. London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bourdieu, Pierre. 1991. Language and Symbolic Power, translated by Matthew Adamson. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Catford, John Cunnison. 1965. A Linguistic Theory of Translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Conway, Kyle. 2022. “Anthropology and Cultrual Translation.” In The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Methodology, edited by Federico Zanettin and Christopher Rundle, 45–61. London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Chan, Leo Tak-hung 陳德鴻, and Nam-fung Chang 張南峰. 2000. Dangdai xifang fanyi lilun jingxuan 當代西方翻譯理論精選 [Selected Western translation theories]. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Chen, Daliang 陈大亮. 2005. “Fanyi yanjiu: Cong zhutixing xiang zhutijianxing zhuanxiang” 翻译研究:从主体性向主体间性转向 [From subjectivity to intersubjectivity: A paradigm shift in translation studies]. Zhongguo fanyi 中国翻译 [Chinese translators journal] (2): 3–9.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Christiane, Nord. 2022. “Action/Skopos Theory.” In The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Methodology, edited by Federico Zanettin and Christopher Rundle, 11–25. London: Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dantas, Marta-Pragana, and Perrusi Artur. 2023. “Temporary Considerations on a Permanent Problem: Sociologizing Translation.” Sociologias 25 (e-soc127858): 1–36. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fu, Jingmin 傅敬民. 2016. “Fanyi yanjiu de wenti yishi yu xueke bianjie” 翻译研究的问题意识与学科边际 [The problematic awareness and disciplinary boundary of translation studies]. Zhongguo waiyu 中国外语 [Foreign languages in China] (5): 14–19.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2023. “Shehui fanyixue: fansi yu zhanwang” 社会翻译学：反思与展望 [Reflection and prospect of soicological translation studies]. Fanyi jie 翻译界 [Translation horizons] (2): 1–3.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gambier, Yves. 2019. “Impact of technology on Translation and Translation Studies.” Russian Journal of Linguistics 23 (2): 344–361. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gao, Xuanyang 高宣扬. 2017. Dangdai shehui lilun 当代社会理论 [Contemporary social theories]. Beijing: Zhongguo renmin daxue chubanshe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gonne, Maud. 2023. “Approaches to the Sociology of Knowledge.” In The Routledge Handbook of Translation Theory and Concepts, edited by Reine Meylaerts and Kobus Marais, 94–112. London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Habermas, Jürgen. 1992. The Theory of Communicative Action. Boston: Beacon Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Harvey, Keith. 1998. “Translating Camp Talk: Gay Identities and Cultural Transfer.” The Translator 4 (2): 295–320. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Heilbron, Johan. 1999. “Towards a Sociology of Translation: Book Translations as a Cultural World-system.” European Journal of Social Theory 2 (4): 429–444. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hermans, Theo. 1999. Translation in Systems. Manchester: St. Jerome Publishing.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Holmes, James. 1972. “The Name and Nature of Translation Studies.” In Third International Congress of Applied Linguistics, edited by Jacques Qvistgaard, 9–24. Copenhagen: Ehrverskøkonomisk Forlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hu, Gengshen 胡庚申. 2009. “Shengtai fanyixue: yixue yanjiu de ‘kuakeji zhenghe’” 生态翻译学:译学研究的 “跨科际整合” [Eco-translatology: “Interdisciplinary integration” of translation studies]. Shanghai fanyi 上海翻译 [Shanghai journal of translators] (2): 55–61.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Huang, Guowen 黄国文. 2004. “Fanyi yanjiu de gongneng yuyanxue tujing” 翻译研究的功能语言学途径 [A functional approach to translation studies]. Zhongguo fanyi 中国翻译 [Chinese translators journal] (5): 15–19.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Jakobson, Roman. 1959. “On Linguistic Aspects of Translation.” In The Translation Studies Reader, edited by Lawrence Venuti, 126–131. London: Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ji, Xianlin 季羡林. 1997. “Xu” 序 [Prologue]. In Zhongguo fanyi cidian 中国翻译词典 [A companion for Chinese translators], edited by Lin Huangtian 林煌天. Wuhan: Hubei jiaoyu chubanshe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lefevere, Andrew, and Susan Bassnett. 1990. Translation, History and Culture. London: Pinter Publishers.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Li, Hongman 李红满. 2007. “Budi’e yu fanyi shehuixue de lilun jiangou” 布迪厄与翻译社会学的理论建构 [Bourdieu and the theoretical construction of sociology of translation]. Zhongguo fanyi 中国翻译 [Chinese translators journal] (5): 6–9.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Li, Xiangping 李向平, and Jianmin Zhang 张建民. 2021. “Heyi wei ‘jiao’, ruhe shi ‘zong’?” 何以为 “教”，如何是 “宗”？ [What is a “creed” and how to become a “sect”?]. Shanghai fanyi 上海翻译 [Shanghai journal of translators] (3): 88–94.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Liu, Jinyu 刘瑾玉, and Kefei Wang 王克非. 2020. “Qi yige ‘fu’ zi liaode?” 岂一个 “富” 字了得？ [Does “fu” cover the whole theme? — A historical review on The Wealth of Nations and its Chinese translations]. Shanghai fanyi 上海翻译 [Shanghai journal of translators] (2): 62–67.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lü, Jun 吕俊. 2002. “Fanyixue: jiegou yu chongjian.” 翻译学：解构与重建 [The deconstruction and reconstruction of Translatology]. Waiyu xuekan 外语学刊 [Foreign language research] (1): 87–92.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Liu, Lydia H. 1995. Translingual Practice: Literature, National Culture, and Translated Modernity — China, 1900–1937. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Malinowski, Bronisław. (1923) 1946. “The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages.” In The Meaning of Meaning: A Study of the Influence of Language Upon Thought and of the Science of Symbolism, edited by Charles Kay Ogden and Ivor Armstrong Richards, 296–336. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Malmkjar, Kirsten. 2023. “Linguistic Approaches.” In The Routledge Handbook of Translation Theory and Concepts, edited by Reine Meylaerts and Kobus Marais, 155–168. London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Merton, Robert. 1968. Social Theory and Social Structure. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nida, Eugene A. 1964. Toward a Science of Translating. Leiden: E. J. Brill. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Niranjana, Tejaswini. 1992. Siting Translation: History, Post-structuralism and the Colonial Context. Berkeley and Los Angles: University of California Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
O’Hagan, Minako. 2013. “The Impact of New Technologies on Translation Studies: A Technological Turn?” In The Routledge Handbook of Translation Studies, edited by Carmen Millan and Francesca Bartrina, 495–509. Longdon and New York: Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ren, Dongsheng 任东升. 2021. “Xinzhongguo sici zhongyao guojia fanyi shijian” 新中国四次重要国家翻译实践 [Four important state translation programs in new China]. Zhongguo shehui kexuebao 中国社会科学报 [Social sciences in China], 17 December 2021, 61.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Reynolds, Matthew. 2011. The Poetry of Translation: From Chaucer & Petrarch to Homer & Logue. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2007. “Translation and Society: The Emergence of a Conceptual Relationship.” in Translation: Reflections, Refractions, Transformations, edited by Paul St-Pierre and Prafulla Kar, 13–26. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Snell-Hornby, Mary. 2006. The Turns of Translation Studies. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Spivak, Gayatri. 1999. A Critique of Postcolonial Reason. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Toury, Gideon. 1995. Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tyulenev, Sergey. 2014. Translation and Society: An Introduction. Longdon: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tyulenv, Sergey, and Wenyan Luo. 2023. “Systems Approaches.” In The Routledge Handbook of Translation Theory and Concepts, edited by Reine Meylaerts and Kobus Marais, 208–223. London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Van Doorslaer, Luc, and Jack McMartin. 2022. “Where Translation Studies and the Social Meet: Setting the Scene for ‘Translation in Society.’” Translation in Society 1 (1): 1–14. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Venuti, Lawrence. 2004. The Translator’s Invisibility. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wang, Hongtao 王洪涛. 2008. Fanyixue de xueke jiangou yu wenhua zhuanxiang 翻译学的学科建构与文化转向 [The discipline construction and cultural turn of translation studies]. Shanghai: Shanghai yiwen chubanshe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2011. “Jiangou ‘shehui fanyixue’: min yu shi de bianxi” 建构 “社会翻译学”：名与实的辨析 [Socio-translation studies: The name and nature of a field under construction]. Zhongguo fanyi 中国翻译 [Chinese translators journal] (1): 14–18.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2017. Shehui fanyixue yanjiu 社会翻译学研究 [Socio-translation studies: Theory, perspective and method]. Tianjing: Nankai daxue chubanshe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wang, Ning 王宁. 2009. Fanyi yanjiu de wenhua zhuanxiang 翻译研究的文化转向 [Cultural turn in translation studies]. Beijing: Qinghua daxue chubanshe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2021. “Fanyi yu makesizhuyi zhongguohua: wenxue he wenhua de weidu” 翻译与马克思主义中国化:文学和文化的维度 [Translation and sinicization of Marxism: A literary and cultural dimension]. Shanghai fanyi 上海翻译 [Shanghai journal of translators] (6): 1–6.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2024. “Quanqiu bentuhua de xiandaixing yu shijie wenxue de zhongguo shijiao” 全球本土化的现代性与世界文学的中国视角 [The modernity of glocalization and the Chinese perspective on world literature]. Yanbian daxue xuebao (shehui kexue ban) 延边大学学报(社会科学版) [Journal of Yanbian University (social sciences edition)] (3): 1–8.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wolf, Michaela. 2012. “The Sociology of Translation and Its ‘Activist Turn.’” Translation and Interpreting Studies 7 (2): 129–143. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wolf, Michaela, and Alexandra Fukari. 2007. Constructing a Society of Translation. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Xu, Jun 许钧. 2006. Fanyi lun 翻译论 [Translation theory]. Wuhan: Hubei jiaoyu chubanshe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2009. Fanyi gailun 翻译概论 [On translation]. Beijing: Waiyu jiaoxue yu yanjiu chubanshe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhang, Chengzhi 张成智, and Huashu Wang 王华树. 2016. “Lun fanyixue de jishu zhuanxiang” 论翻译学的技术转向 [Taking the technological turn in translation studies]. Fanyi jie 翻译界 [Translation horizons] (2): 104–118.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhang, Gu 张汩, and Michaela Wolf 沃尔夫. 2017. “Fanyi yanjiuzhong de ‘shehuixuezhuanxiang’” 翻译研究中的 “社会学转向” [The “sociological turn” in translation studies]. Dongfang fanyi 东方翻译 [East journal of translation] (6):46–52.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhao, Wei 赵巍. 2013. “Guanyu ‘shehui fanyixue’ de zai sikao” 关于 “社会翻译学” 的再思考 [Reflections on sociological approach to translation studies]. Xi’an waiguoyu daxue xuebao 西安外国语大学学报 [Journal of Xi’an International Studies University] 21 (1): 109–112.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhou, Lingshun 周领顺. 2023. “Shehui lujing de fanyi yanjiu” 社会路径的翻译研究：一个批评性视角 [A sociological approach to translation studies: A critical perspective]. Waiyu yu waiyu jiaoxue 外语与外语教学 [Foreign languages and their teaching] (3): 97–104.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhu, Chunsheng. 2021. Fathoming Translation as Discursive Experience: Theorization and Application. London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue