The pivotal role of translators’ research in literary translation
A case study on Jeffrey C. Kinkley
Although much recent work in translation studies has focused on translators, the research conducted by translators
remains understudied. This study explores translators’ research and its impact on their translations and on translational trust.
Taking Jeffrey C. Kinkley – an American translator, historian, and sinologist – as an illustrative case study, this paper
investigates Kinkley’s research work, including interviews with the original author, fieldwork-based efforts to verify objects
described in the text, research on historical documentation and previous academic studies, and more, resembling the research work
of evidential scholarship and ethnographic studies. Kinkley’s research impacts his translations, characterized by inclusive text
selection, thick translation strategies, literary and cultural fidelity, and new knowledge creation. A translator’s research
provides a solid foundation for accurate and adequate translations, increased visibility, and interactive and dynamic networking
among various agents in the translation field, which plays a pivotal role in nurturing translational trust. This investigation
into Kinkley’s research work contributes to an in-depth understanding of and objective comments on both translation and translator.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Research work involved in translation
- 2.1The Translator’s Interviews with the Original Author
- 2.2The Translator’s fieldwork
- 3.The impact of the translator’s research on the translated text
- 4.The translator’s research nurturing mutual translational trust
- 5.Interviews as an effective means of understanding the translator
- 6.The pivotal role of a translator’s research
- Notes
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References