Translation and Global Asia

The present volume originates from “The Fourth Asian Translation Traditions Conference” held in Hong Kong in December 2010. The conference generated stimulating discussions relating to the richness and diversity of non-Western discourses and practices of translation, focusing on translational exchanges between non-Western languages, and the change and continuity in Asian translation traditions. Translation and Global Asia shows a rich diversification of historical and geographical interests, and covers a broad array of topics, ranging from ninth-century Buddhist translation in Tibet to twenty-first-century political translation in Malaysia.

This collection is strikingly rich. Its authors deal with a wide range of topics in geographically diverse locations from India, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines to different parts of China. They evoke different linguistic and historical contexts from ancient times right up to the contemporary period, and take a variety of approaches, strongly supported by current theories in translation and cultural studies. Presenting vital case studies, this essential volume illustrates the importance of examining translation from a historical perspective, of taking account of power relations, and of studying the unique role of translators in initiating change and transmitting new ideas.

—Judith Woodsworth
Concordia University, Canada