The Study of Translation in Periodicals: Past, Present and Future

The practice of periodical publication is attracting increasing attention in the field of translation studies, but, serialised translation as a topic still lacks sufficient research attention. This study outlines the historical background of periodical studies, the role of new digital tools in making early source material accessible, and the range of perspectives and analytical methods that can be applied to future studies in this subfield. Through its overview of the historical backgrounds of periodical and translation studies, this study brings out the urgent need for inquiries into translation in periodicals, covering such topics as their specific features, cultural implications, the way in which periodicals help with the presentation of translation products, and the different patterns of translation products presented in periodicals which lead to new research potentials in terms of the identification of different kinds of translation. The potential to enrich the multiplicity of research methodologies and perspectives in the still-emergent field are demonstrated in a review of the literature, which reveal the neglected facets and little-used methods. The greater research value attached to early historical materials by the exploitation of digital archives is unveiled alongside the potential of current research instruments to enhance the academic study of translation in periodicals.