Accommodating paratextual theory to born-digital literature translation: a case study of “Wuxiaworld”

This study intends to apply the paratextual theory to investigate born-digital literature translation. As the digital translation phenomenon is radically distinct from that of print culture, modifications necessitate being made on paratext as both a theoretical concept and a systematic research framework. Given that paratext was initially articulated and utilized to analyze printed rather than digital texts, this study probes into the premise of Genette’s original argumentation and further refines the theory in conformity with current digital changes. Since being materialized and being authorial, as two criteria for identifying paratext, are technically unattainable in the digital sphere, this study underscores paratext’s decisive definition of being functional to the text and argues for functionality as the overarching standard to identify digital paratexts. An updated framework centered on functionality is constructed and testified in analyzing the Wuxiaworld website (wuxiaworld.com), the largest Chinese-to-English Wuxia (martial art) novel translation platform. As proven, the functionality-oriented paratextual framework is of pertinence and efficacy to investigate digital text and, therefore, holds potential to inspire further paratextual studies on digital translations.