Language & Intercultural Communication
Editor: Dr John Corbett (University of Glasgow)
Associate Editor: Robert Crawshaw (Lancaster University)
Reviews and Criticism Editor: Dr Fiona J. Doloughan (University of Surrey)
Editorial Board: Gavin Jack (University of Stirling)
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Volume: 7 Number: 3 Page: 240–252
doi:10.2167/laic198.0
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Power Relations and Translational Inequality in China
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He Xianbin
English Department, Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University, China
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Chinese translation to and from Japanese and English verifies the hypothesis that power differentials influence the flow and reception of translations. The Chinese tradition of translation has been characterised by fluency, but some scholars have recently advocated foreignisation for English to Chinese translation, and domestication for Chinese to English translation. This shift indicates that, as English has risen to global dominance, it is more respected as a source and target language in China, whose translation strategies are therefore subject to cultural variation. In defining and classifying language dominance, one needs to take into account not only the power of a language at the regional and world levels, but also the relative strength of one language in relation to the other. Thus translation patterns between specific countries may be better understood.
Keywords: power relations, Chinese translation, intercultural exchange
© 2007 H. Xianbin
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