Babel - Current Issue

Abstract

Previous studies on pivot translation indicate it tends to produce texts that are weaker in style and communication, contain numerous mistranslations, and lack linguistic richness. However, it can be argued that some level of loss is inherent in the translation process. The textual features often seen as vulnerable to mistranslation in pivot translation — such as humor, taboo language, cultural references, or marked language — are also notoriously difficult to translate accurately in direct translation. Therefore, it is important to compare the loss in indirect translation with that in direct translation. This paper aims to do so by analyzing two versions of the Egyptian series Paranormal (2020): the indirect Polish subtitles based on an English pivot and the direct Polish voice-over. The goal is to determine whether the loss and misrepresentation commonly linked to pivot translation are truly caused by this method or are simply natural aspects of translation. Additionally, the study compares the translation accuracy of the indirect Polish translator with that of the direct Polish translator to see if indirect translators tend to introduce more errors independently (excluding those transferred from the pivot) than direct translators.

Abstract

Business translation research has grown in importance worldwide. In the West, we have witnessed significant advances in the teaching and research of the field, broadening our understanding of its key areas and academic trends. However, the landscape of research in business translation in the East remains largely unknown to us. This article addresses this gap in our knowledge and explores the landscape of business translation research in the East, comparing it with Western research production. First, we compiled two bibliographic corpora: one from BITRA for the Western case and another from CNKI and CAOD for the Chinese case. We then analyzed both corpora using a series of bibliometric indicators (production, collaboration, scattering, and content). The results show that research in both corpora aligns to some extent with classical bibliometric laws (exponential growth, publication scattering, and author distribution), but there are also differences in content: while Western research reveals a diversity of objects of study, Chinese research appears to align with national foreign trade strategies.

Abstract

This study examines the intersection of food, translation studies, and antispeciesism by analyzing how traditional Turkish dishes are transformed into vegan options at Vegan Masa, Turkey’s first fully vegan wood-fired oven restaurant. Based on the idea that food serves as a cultural and communicative system, this research views the reproduction of wood-fired dishes like pide and lahmacun with vegan ingredients as acts of cultural and superasemiospheric translation within the framework of eco-translation. By analyzing menu changes and ingredients, with traditional versions seen as source texts and vegan versions as target texts, this study highlights how Turkish culinary traditions are reinterpreted through an antispeciesist lens that questions interspecies hierarchies. Content analysis of menu modifications and thematic analysis of an interview with Vegan Masa’s co-founder reveal the subtle cultural reinterpretations involved in veganizing traditional Turkish cuisine. The results emphasize the dual role of menus as expressions of collective culinary identity and as tools for broader ecological and interspecies discussions. This research adds to the growing interest in post-anthropocentric translation practices by providing insights into how antispeciesist dietary choices are reshaping cultural narratives in Turkey, as shown through Vegan Masa’s example of transforming ways of thinking.

Abstract

Taking patronized publishers as a starting point, this article examines how the shift in patronage during China’s thawing 1980s shaped publishers regarding their selection of translations and the framing of those translations through paratexts. It finds that the type of patronage publishers receive can significantly influence their publishing behavior. Undifferentiated patronage can ensure publishers’ ideological compliance, but when patronage lacks economic components, publishers’ ideological commitment can wane. As a result, publishers turned to translations that attracted a broader readership yet were deemed ideologically inappropriate. Furthermore, during this period marked by uncertainty and tentativeness, Chinese publishers chose translations as a means to test their patron’s tolerance and included paratexts to justify their decisions, downplaying profit motives while emphasizing the social importance of their publications.

Abstract

Increasing attention is devoted to translators’ job satisfaction (JS), evaluations, and emotions concerning one’s work. Given the complex and interdisciplinary nature of JS, an explorative overview of how the concept has been approached in translation studies is sorely needed. Drawing on a corpus of 51 articles (1998–2021), we analyze the theoretical backgrounds, methods and populations in order to present a comprehensive view on the theoretical and methodological approaches to translators’ JS. The theoretical approaches can mainly be divided into psychological, psycho-sociological, sociological, and ergonomic. We assess the application and relevance of the approaches, drawing attention to how only a few established psychological theories have so far been used. Methodologically, most studies rely on survey data analyzed quantitatively, concerning translators with a particular specialization or mode of employment. Looking ahead, the topic would benefit from a conceptual analysis of JS and related concepts, as well as further exploration of established psychological theories and validated quantitative instruments. At the same time, we see a call for qualitative, interventive, and conceptual studies and for critical reflection on studying translators’ JS.

This article reviews Translation and Race

This article reviews Agencies in Feminist Translator Studies: Barbara Godard and the Crossroads of Literature in Canada

This article reviews Travel Writing and Cultural Transfer