Abstract:
Translation is a socially regulated activity: the translation actors, their
individual social impact, and their relations can be influential upon the
final translation product. This article explores the agency of translation
actors and networks with respect to literary translation production by
adapting two sociological theories: Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and
Bourdieu’s concepts of capital. The study pays particular attention to the
role of social agents and networks in the translation of a lesser-known
literature in a dominant culture. The case study is of translations of contemporary Taiwanese novels in the United States after the 1980s. Translator-led and subvention networks are identified through the examination
of paratexts and extratexts. Emphasis is placed on the subvention network
formed by agents in both the source and target cultures. This network
may be effective in translating and exporting lesser-known literature,
particularly with respect to the text selection and the possibility of publication. However, the subvention network has its limitations with respect
to producing translations that conform to the target culture’s expectations.
