Translation agents and networks, with reference to the translation of contemporary Taiwanese novels

Translation is a socially regulated activity: the translation actors, their individual social impact, and their relations can be influential upon the final translation product. This article explores the agency of translation actors and networks with respect to literary translation production by adapting two sociological theories: Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and Bourdieu’s concepts of capital. The study pays particular attention to the role of social agents and networks in the translation of a lesser-known literature in a dominant culture. The case study is of translations of con-temporary Taiwanese novels in the United States after the 1980s. Trans-lator-led and subvention networks are identified through the examination of paratexts and extratexts. Emphasis is placed on the subvention network formed by agents in both the source and target cultures. This network may be effective in translating and exporting lesser-known literature, particularly with respect to the text selection and the possibility of publi-cation. However, the subvention network has its limitations with respect to producing translations that conform to the target culture’s expecta-tions