Evolution of interpreting as a social practice in China during the past four decades. An analysis of Chinese discourse on interpreting through the lens of social practice theory

Abstract

This article examines how interpreting has evolved as a social practice in China and how it has been shaped by the changing social environment during the past four decades. Viewing interpreting as a social practice, the study employs an adapted three-element model from the social practice theory as the analytic framework. Through a qualitative thematic and content analysis of about 50 relevant articles representing the three sets of elements, which are selected from a database of Chinese articles on interpreting, and published in quality journals of Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index/Core Journals of China in the past four decades, the “competences,” “meanings,” and “materials” of the social practice of interpreting are identified and their evolution in different periods are analysed. Through an examination of the economic, socio-political, and technological developments in China during the past four decades, the evolution of interpreting in three periods (late 1970s to early 1990s, the mid-1990s to early 2000s, and 2007 to present) are identified, and the role of the changing environment in shaping the social practice of interpreting is revealed.