On July 18, 2021, the High-level Forum on Frontier Exploration in Social Translation studies co-hosted by our school and School of English and International Studies of Beijing Foreign Studies University was successfully held though online platforms. Experts and scholars at the forum conducted in-depth discussions on such hot topics as the ontology and methodology of social translation studies, social translation and the construction of foreign discourse system, social translation and translator behavior, social translation and translation history. According to the statistics of Tencent Meeting and Bilibili live broadcast platform, the number of online participants of this forum reached more than 2,200, which attracted widespread attention in the Chinese translation field.
During the opening ceremony, Professor Zhong Shuneng, Dean of School of Foreign Languages, South China University of Technology, and Professor Wang Hongtao, Director of School of English and International Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University delivered their speeches respectively. Prof Zhong introduced to the experts and scholars the basic situation of the School of Foreign Languages of SCUT and the latest development of the discipline construction, and believed that this forum will further promote the communication and integration of social translation studies and related disciplines, and contribute to the construction and development of the discipline of foreign languages. Prof. Wang, in his speech, gave an review over the development of social translation studies, expressed his affirmation on the fruitful explorations of scholars in translation at home and abroad in this field, and his belief that the convening of this forum will strongly promote the further development of social translation studies in China. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Wu Jianguo, vice dean of School of Foreign Languages, SCUT.
The forum was divided into two parts: the keynote report and the Young Scholars Forum. In keynote speech of the morning, Professor Fu Jingmin from Shanghai University, Professor Wang Hongtao from Beijing Foreign Studies University, Professor Wang Baorong from Hangzhou Normal University, Professor Xing Jie from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, and Professor Zhu Xianlong from South China University of Technology focused on the topics concerning social translation studies including discourse system, discipline construction, external communication and theoretical exploration. Professor Huang Qin from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Professor Hu Mu from Nanjing Normal University, Professor Shao Lu from Sun Yat-Sen University, Professor Xu Ying and Professor Liu Xiqin from South China University of Technology hosted and commented on the morning expert keynote report.
Professor Fu Jingmin, doctoral supervisor of School of Foreign Languages of Shanghai University and the editor-in-chief of Shanghai Translation, gave a keynote speech focusing on the issue of the sociality of translation and the translatability of society, holding that translation is social, and society also has translatability. Sociology pays close attention to translation, and translatology cannot exclude the social problems of translation. Social translation studies is not only different from translation studies from a sociological perspective, but also different from sociological studies of translation. Instead, it takes social issues of translation as the problem domain of translation studies, so as to put forward corresponding theoretical hypotheses and play a due role in promoting the construction of the discourse system of translation studies.
Prof.Fu Jingmin giving his keynote speech
Professor Wang Hongtao, a doctoral supervisor School of English and International Studies of Beijing Foreign Studies University, gave a keynote speech on the topic of Social Translation Studies: The Debate of Name and Reality and the Way to the Future, focusing on the sociological turn of translation studies, the issue of name and reality in social translation studies, etc. He pointed out that, as a branch of translation studies, social translation studies not only has its own unique disciplinary principles and disciplinary nature, but also has its own clear research objects, research goals and increasingly mature research methods. In the future, the development of social translation studies needs to face the real social translation phenomenon, explore various complex social translation problems, and form a complete and self-consistent disciplinary theoretical system in specific research practice.
Prof.Wang Hongtao giving his keynote speech
Professor Wang Baorong, Distinguished Professor of the School of Foreign Languages of Hangzhou Normal University, gave a keynote speech themed Sociological Exploration of Chinese Literature Translation and Transmission Mode, using the sociological theories such as the domain theory of cultural production, actor network theory, and analysis model of world literature field structure, and focusing on the English translation works of Lu Xun, Mo Yan, Yu Hua and Yan Lianke's novels, systematically discussed the operation methods, characteristics and effects of six types of translation and introduction and dissemination modes under the operation mechanism of who initiates and who publishes, and pointed out that the unique value of the Western commercial publishing house's publishing + recruiting sinologist for translation model for foreign translation of Chinese literature.
Prof.Wang Baorong giving his keynote speech
Professor Xing Jie from the School of Interpreting and Translation Studies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies gave a keynote speech on the topic of From Background to Foreground: An Analysis of the Development Process of Translation Research in Sociological Approach. Based on the analysis, he thought over the contribution of sociological approach to the innovation of translation theory, its expansion of researches and implications for research methods, etc, pointed out that social translation studies should continue to trace its origins, and should also reflect a clear awareness of problems and demonstrate family and country feelings, showing the uniqueness of the new paradigm of translation studies from the perspective of sociology. On this basis, he analyzed the challenges faced by the sociological approach to translation studies, and forecasted the development prospects of social translation studies.
Prof.Xing Jie giving his keynote speech
Professor Zhu Xianlong from the School of Foreign Languages of South China University of Technology focused on Exploration of Translation Research Paths from the Perspective of Actor Network Theory (ANT)” and believed that the sustainable development of social translation studies depends on the integration and mutual learning between different theories. Based on the thinking of three mainstream sociological research paths, he put forward the basic principles of translation research and the actor analysis framework from the perspective of actor network theory. With the English translation version of the novel by Laoshe, and based on ANT analysis framework tracking the trajectories of heterogeneous actors, as well as the connection, interaction and translation between different actors, he further broadened the research approach of social translation studies.
Prof.Zhu Xianlong giving his keynote speech
In the afternoon session of the Young Scholars Forum, 12 young scholars from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Macau, Sun Yat-Sen University, Nankai University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Jinan University, Xi'an International Studies University, Jiangxi Normal University and other universities shared their research results and experiences. Professor Wang Baorong from Hangzhou Normal University and Professor Xing Jie from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies presided over the speeches in two halves respectively. Professor Qin Jianghua from Huazhong Agricultural University, Dr. Zhang Ying from Shanghai International Studies University and Professor Su Yan from Central China Normal University made detailed comments on the speeches of the Forum one by one.
The closing ceremony of the forum was presided over by Dr. Wang Yingchong from Beijing Foreign Studies University, and the closing speech was delivered by Professor Zhu Xianlong, Vice Dean of school of Foreign Languages, South China University of Technology. On behalf of the forum hosts, Professor Zhu Xianlong briefly summarized and reviewed the forum and expressed his sincere thanks to the experts, scholars and academic colleagues who participated in the forum for their strong support. He pointed out that the forum focused on the theoretical innovation, development and discipline construction of social translation studies, and was committed to theoretical citation, system innovation and practical exploration of social translation studies. The academic community is growing stronger, and social translation studies has a bright future.
This forum is an active exploration of the frontier academic issues of social translation studies by the Chinese translation studies community. It provides a high-level academic exchange platform for social translation studies researchers, and plays an important role in leading and promoting the development of social translation studies in China. The successful holding of the forum has further improved the level and level of academic exchanges in our school, and is of great significance to the construction and development of translation disciplines.
