A Pilot Study On Translator Status In Mainland China

Research into translator status has significant implications for the language industry, as status perceptions affect how translators think and act, influence their levels of satisfaction and engagement, and sway translation students’ willingness to enter the translation profession. In the translation research literature, translators for a long time are often associated with such derogatory words as "secondary" or "affiliates", indicating a low social status. In recent years, the topic of translator status has received some attention from researchers in the West. By comparison, in China, there have been few studies on it.This study empirically investigates translator status in Mainland China using questionnaire surveys and interviews of translators (including full-time, part-time, and freelance translators), non-translator professionals, translation students, translation scholars, and others. It is probably the first of its kind in this country.Status as a concept has several dimensions, which can include salary/income, education/expertise, influence/power, fame/visibility, and professional function (or social value). These dimensions are measured using Likert scales in this study’s questionnaires. Results indicate that the translator status is not high in Mainland China-the general mean value for translator status is 2.99, below the mean baseline 3. Also, some of the five dimensions (e.g., fame/visibility, salary/income) are found to play a more important role in the perception of status than others (e.g., influence/power).Translators are generally dissatisfied with their current situation of not getting enough in return for what they are giving. The reasons are various. The internal causes relate to the deficiencies inside the translation market, which include (1) the not yet crystalized admission rules and specialization process of translation market, (2) low market price for translation work and the insecure rights of translators, especially those of part-time translators, and (3) the lack of a powerful industry organization, regulating translation market and speaking for translators. The external cause involves misunderstandings of the translation work-many people take translation work as simple, mechanic and easy, which any foreign language majors or overseas students can do.In order to improve the status of translators and enhance their levels of satisfaction and motivation, appropriate measures should be taken in the language industry as well in the society in accordance with the causes that lead to the low status.