Translator training and education in China: past, present and prospects

Abstract

China can look back on over 5000 years of human civilisation and a 3000-year history of translation, but the history of the teaching of translation is only about 100 years old. This article surveys the historical development of translator education in China and analyses the creation of an actual system of translation pedagogy in the new millennium. Leading up to 2006, China established a complete system for training translators and interpreters at the BA, MA/MTI and PhD levels at universities. In the explorations of translator education in the past and present, teaching philosophy, translation textbooks and translation teaching research are discussed in detail. Based on the growth of translation studies and the variety of translation practice, some future trends for translator education in China are predicted in this article, with a view to promoting ‘whole-person translator education’. Since translator education is a dynamic, interactive process between teachers and students, it is influenced by many factors such as social demands, teaching philosophy, teachers’ personalities and teaching styles, students’ personalities and learning strategies, and modern technology. Translator education is an ongoing process that calls for different contributions from different parts of the world.

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