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Article published In: FORUM
Vol. 17:1 (2019) ► pp.99–119

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Mapping translation studies in China based on Holmes/Toury Map

 | Beijing Foreign Studies University
 | Beijing Foreign Studies University
Published online: 26 July 2019
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.17015.zha
Abstract
In the evolution of Translation Studies (TS) in China, one landmark development was its being established as a standalone discipline in 2004 and a seminal publication in this regard is Chinese Translators Journal (CTJ). This study, by surveying 1,283 papers published in CTJ from 2004 to 2016, aims to identify the main features and research trends of TS in China based on the Holmes/Toury map. It reveals that of the three branches of TS, the theoretical branch claimed the largest share, that the number of descriptive studies had been increasing and that the scope of areas covered by applied TS was expanding. Besides, the study also verifies the significant value of Holmes’ framework as a highly serviceable guide and its applicability, mutatis mutandis, to TS in China. This study may arguably shed fresh light on the latest developments of TS in the Chinese context.
Résumé
En 2004 lorsque le premier programme de diplôme de traduction en Chine continentale a été établi, les Études de Traduction (ET) a établi sa position en tant que discipline autonome. Journal des Traducteurs Chinois (JTC) est le premier journal professionnel en Chine à publier des articles de recherche sur la traduction. Cette étude, en examinant 1283 articles publiés dans JTC de 2004 à 2016, vise à identifier les principales caractéristiques et les tendances de recherche d’ET en Chine sur la base de la carte Holmes/Toury. Il révèle que parmi les trois branches d’ET, la branche théorique a occupé la part la plus importante, que le nombre d’études descriptives avait augmenté et que la portée des domaines couverts par l’ET était en expansion. De plus, l’étude vérifie la valeur significative du cadre de Holmes en tant que guide hautement utilisable et son applicabilité, mutatis mutandis, pour ET en Chine. Cette étude pourrait apporter une nouvelle lumière sur les derniers développements d’ET dans le contexte chinois.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review and methodology
  • 3.Holmes paper as a starting point
  • 4.What we can learn from the Holmes/Toury map about TS in China
    • 4.1A substantial number of papers belong to the category of theoretical translation studies
    • 4.2There was an upward trend in the quantity of DTS papers
    • 4.3In some studies, descriptive elements went hand in hand with prescriptive ones
  • 5.What we cannot learn from the Holmes/Toury map about TS in China
    • 5.1The applied side of TS in the Holmes/Toury map needs further expansion
    • 5.2Interpreting studies calls for more attention and needs a more detailed grouping system
    • 5.3It is difficult to categorize translation history studies
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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