The industrialization of translation: Causes, consequences and challenges

Much has written by scholars on translation as product and as process, but relatively little attention has been paid to translation as a commercial service, business or industry. This article proposes a modest step in this direction by using microeconomics as a window through which to examine the industrialization of translation, focusing on causes, consequences and challenges. It begins by analyzing the outsourcing of translation and translation-related services. It then considers consequences of large-scale outsourcing, including quality uncertainty, information asymmetry, adverse selection, price pressure and perceived commoditization. Finally, the article explores challenges posed by these developments, including signaling and screening, the productivity imperative and the development of expertise. The article concludes with an overview of potential areas of research to be explored in this track in future issues.