Translation Policy Studies in China: Review and Reflections

Abstract

Although translation policy was included in the “map” of translation studies as early as the 1970s, the area has never received much academic attention until very recently. As far as China is concerned, studies on the topic have made some achievements in the past decade, but it should be admitted that there is much room for improvement. The main limitations of current studies can be summarized as follows: firstly, there is a lack of in-depth exploration into the nature of translation policy; secondly, the scope of research is rather limited; thirdly, descriptions of facts and phenomena far exceed detailed explanations or theoretical analysis. Possible ways of promoting this area of study include: (1) to conduct more case studies on specific translation policies in China’s long history of translation; (2) to draw on methods or theoretical perspectives from more developed fields of study; and (3) to lay more emphasis on domain-specific studies or research into a certain aspect of translation policy.