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In:Translation Studies between Disciplines and Practices
Edited by Luc van Doorslaer and Yves Gambier
[Benjamins Translation Library 174] 2026
► pp. 266–287

Chapter 14
Museum practice and translation studies

The translator’s role in museum exhibitions

 | Hong Kong Baptist University
 | National Museum of China
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
Museums are major sites of translation in which the production of multilingual interpretive resources is crucial to fulfilling the museum’s institutional purpose in the global heritage milieu. Equally, from the perspective of translation studies research, the academe has in recent years shown increasing interest in the museum as a less-understood site of translation. However, there has hitherto been relatively little dialogue between translation studies and museum practice. This chapter presents an exchange between a university-based researcher in museum translation and a senior museum translation practitioner from one of China’s premier museums. It focuses on the role of the translator, a role which has been under-theorized, and for which the practitioner perspective is particularly important to better understanding how the translator approaches museum-based translation practice. The exchange calls for greater dialogue and collaboration, both in practical training and research, in ways that can be of genuine benefit to both communities.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction: Museums, translation and the need for disciplinary exchange
  • 2.The museum translator: The view from TS
  • 3.The museum translator: The view from museum practice
    • 3.1Time constraint
    • 3.2Boundary practice
    • 3.3Interpretation
    • 3.4The museum translator’s self-identity
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (57)
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