Features of translation policies on the Chinese mainland (1979–2021): A corpus-based analysis of policy documents under a new classification

Huiyu Zhang, Hailing Zhang, Yayu Shi and Yueyu Chen
Zhejiang University

This research presents a new classification of translation policy by referring to Baldauf’s (2006) framework of language planning. It constructs a policy database containing 363 policy documents issued on the Chinese mainland from 1979 to 2021, and analyzes the features of each policy category by integrating corpus analysis with text analysis. It is revealed that policy documents on translation education aim to train professional translators with standard national tests and postgraduate programs; policy documents on translation profession are committed to improving the professional title system for translators and interpreters; policy documents on translation standardization are supported by national standards and cover various stakeholders and fields; and policy documents on official translation projects aim to disseminate Chinese culture, provide language services for international events, and organize minority language translation. With these findings, this study contributes to research on translation policy with new knowledge about China and a novel perspective, classification, and approach.

Publication history

Date received: 21 February 2022

Date accepted: 24 February 2024

Published online: 22 March 2024

Table of contents

Since China’s reform and opening-up commenced in December 1978, translation activities in the country have continually increased to facilitate its ever-more-frequent global exchanges. To promote these activities, a series of policies have been introduced by various Chinese ministries and local governments. Translation policy plays a decisive role in guiding and regulating translation activities (Meylaerts 2011a) and its importance is self-evident, but scholarly attention to contemporary Chinese translation policy is limited, and a general picture of translation policy in this country is lacking.

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