Online Collaborative Translation

The meta-concept online collaborative translation is used to describe a range of translation practices resulting from Web 2.0, from fan translations by self-organised groups (fansubs, fandubs, scanlations, translation hacking) to crowdsourcing and interlingual knowledge-sharing on platforms such as Wikipedia. Often, these activities are performed by internet users on a voluntary and unpaid basis; however, there also exist cases where professional translators are involved at some stages or are even the main actors.

With this in mind, we aim to study these relatively new online phenomena and their impact on the translation profession, the ethical and conceptual implications, and the opportunities for action. We will undertake theoretical/conceptual work and gather both qualitative and quantitative data on the motivations of the actors, incentives to participate in online collaborative activities, the tools and technological advances, and the ensuing power relations and possible acts of exploitation that fall within the scope of online collaborative translation.