Babel - Volume 72, Issue 3, 2026

Abstract

This paper investigates censorship and self-censorship in six translated English young adult (YA) novels containing depictions of sexual assault published in Indonesia between 2005 and 2020. Situated within Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS) and employing a qualitative approach, this paper describes the censorship strategies and sociocultural aspects involved in translating sex-related language (SRL) employed by several publishing houses in Indonesia. The results reveal that textual and paratextual censorships are the most common practices. These censorships and self-censorships are largely influenced by the ideal readers, those within the age range specified on the cover of the novels, and sociocultural aspects. Sex-related language is often omitted or toned down, and the age classification for YA novels is frequently raised to align with target sociocultural expectations. This study also uncovers the dynamics of translators and editors when working on the censorship of novels. Finally, this paper sheds light on the practice of publishing translations of English YA novels in Indonesia, focusing on censorship in translation.

Abstract

Demand for Audiovisual Translation (AVT) competences has grown markedly, yet many institutions face constraints that limit the feasibility of standalone AVT programs. This study investigates an embedded approach that integrates a short subtitling unit into a general translation curriculum to develop EMT-aligned competences. We report on a six-week subtitling module delivered within an MA in Translation and Interpreting at a Hong Kong university, using a mixed-method design to evaluate learning outcomes. Findings show substantial gains in technology and translation domains: students progressed from limited prior exposure to demonstrated proficiency with professional workflows in OOONA, improved timing/segmentation and parameter compliance, and enhanced post-editing and proofreading, dialogue condensation, and problem-solving under spatial/temporal constraints. The results suggest that a compact, resource-efficient subtitling module can strengthen core translation competence while building AVT-specific skills, offering a scalable pathway for institutions operating under curricular and staffing constraints. This integrated model aligns with the EMT 2022 competence framework across Technology, Translation, Personal/Interpersonal, and Service Provision domains, and provides a practical response to evolving media localization demands in the region.

Abstract

This article investigates Lawrence Venuti’s English translation of Edward Hopper, a Catalan poetry collection by Ernest Farrés inspired by the American painter’s work. It develops the concept of “contra fusion” to describe a mode of translation that foregrounds interpretive agency, cultural specificity, and polyphonic authorship. Drawing on key theories of poetry translation and ekphrasis, the article situates Venuti’s method within a broader hermeneutic tradition, emphasizing the translator’s creative role in navigating both interlingual and intersemiotic dimensions. Through close readings, it explores how the translation maintains the stylistic and cultural complexity of the Catalan original while incorporating elements of Hopper’s voice and American vernacular. Special attention is given to compound structures, idiomatic shifts, and cultural recoding. The article argues that Edward Hopper functions as a collaborative, transmedial project — where painter, poet, and translator converge in a dynamic interplay of languages, traditions, and aesthetic forms. In doing so, it demonstrates how translation can operate not merely as transfer, but as co-creation and cultural intervention.

Abstract

This pedagogical pilot explores the effects of deliberate cross-curricular integration of Technical Writing (TW) and Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) courses on students’ intercultural adaptation skills, focusing on culturally adapting a Chinese restaurant menu for English-speaking diners. It supports multilingual and multicultural accommodations in a global translation context by addressing gaps in translator training, including unclear definitions, limited empirical evidence, narrow language diversity, and minimal technology use. The research investigated whether deliberate TW–CAT integration improves trainees’ linguistic performance (fluency and accuracy) and intercultural adaptation skills and explored perceptions of TW’s usefulness and cross-curricular learning. A mixed-methods design involved 70 graduate trainees, comprising an experimental group (EG) with exposure to TW knowledge and a control group (CG) without exposure to TW knowledge. Data gathered through questionnaires, task assessments, and presentations were analyzed to determine trainees’ performance and perceptions. EG trainees showed significantly better cultural adaptation scores (p = .029, Cohen’s d = 1.68) than the CG. While effect sizes were large within this sample, results are context-specific and require replication in other settings. The study offers a proof-of-concept technology-integrated, cross-curricular training model that advances language-culture contact, informs pedagogy for diverse linguistic identities, and shapes inclusive translation education policies.

Abstract

This article examines the reception of ten contemporary Chinese science fiction novels translated by Ken Liu, Martinsen, and Lanphier, among others, focusing on their global library holdings, sales rankings, reader ratings, and the number of ratings on platforms such as Amazon and Goodreads. By analyzing the dissemination, reader attention, and reader recognition of these works, the study aims to assess the reception of contemporary Chinese science fiction novels in the English-speaking world. The findings reveal that Chinese science fiction novels published between 2014 and 2018, represented by the English translations of The Three-Body Problem trilogy and The Wandering Earth, have achieved significant dissemination, high reader attention, and strong recognition in the English-speaking world, indicating a positive reception. However, science fiction novels translated and published more recently (2019 to the present) have not achieved comparable levels of reception. Maintaining the prosperity and development of Chinese science fiction in overseas markets and ensuring the sustained and effective dissemination of Chinese science fiction literature abroad remain critical challenges that need to be addressed in current science fiction translation research and practice.

This article reviews Translation Studies and China. Literature, Cinema, and Visual Arts

This article reviews Creating New Languages of Resistance: Translation, Public Philosophy and Border Violence

This article reviews Collaborative Poetry Translation: Processes, Priorities, and Relationships in the Poettrio Method