Globalisation, Networks and Translation: A Chinese Perspective

Globalisation is often interpreted as a state of interconnectedness descriptive of global networks of capital, commodities, information, knowledge, migrants, financial transactions and so on. On the global level, the process of globalisation and intensified international contacts or cooperation in various fields have facilitated the growth of the translation sector. Being a part of this global market, China has experienced translation-facilitated transformations in various aspects of social life, such as commerce, education, fashion and social practices. Aiming to interpret the new implications of translation and translation studies in the network society of this age of globalisation from a Chinese perspective, this paper examines the changing demands of the enlarged domestic translation market, the new requirements and working environments for translators, and the commercialisation and industrialisation of the local translation sector. The present article presents the latest developments in the translation sector in the mainland of China and reveals major challenges in the professionalisation and industrialisation process.