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Exploring homology of fields in translation

A sociological examination of Chinese contemporary literature translation in Brazil and Portugal (2000–2022)

| The Chinese University of Hong Kong

The translation and reception of contemporary Chinese literature into Portuguese have gained prominence recently but have not received much scholarly attention. This study employs Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of homology to analyze the relationship between translation and various related fields and their impact on translating Chinese contemporary literature in Brazil and Portugal from 2000 to 2022. It highlights how these fields’ interconnectedness has both facilitated and hindered translation practices. The research explores the notion of fields and homology and examines the translation production process, focusing on how the translation field interacts with its academic, educational, and political counterparts. Using the translation of contemporary Chinese literature into Portuguese as a case study, the article suggests that the structural similarity among these fields significantly affects how Chinese literature is translated and received, influencing the choice of works, translation methods, and publishing priorities. Through an extensive analysis, the study bridges Bourdieu’s homology concept with practical scenarios, enhancing the discourse in translation studies and Chinese literature, particularly in the Portuguese context.

Keywords: translation, contemporary Chinese literature, Pierre Bourdieu, homology of fields, Portuguese language
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Bourdieu’s theory of field, homology, and translation studies
  • 3.Homologies between academic, educational, political, and translation fields
    • 3.1Academic field and translation field
    • 3.2Educational field and translation field
    • 3.3Political field and translation field
  • 4.Concluding remarks
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 21 November 2023
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https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.00363.zho
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