Mapping social networks of Chinese-English literary translation: a social network analysis of Renditions (1973–2024)

Despite the presence of a growing body of literary translation research into periodicals, the social networks that shape translators’ work within these periodicals remain underexplored. This study addresses this gap by examining the social networks embedded in Renditions, a biannual Chinese-English literary translation journal. It achieves this through an analysis of metadata from the 100 issues published between 1973 and 2024. Using a microanalytic approach and Gephi network analysis complemented by qualitative examination of materials, the study maps the interactions among translators, authors, editors, and associated institutions, revealing patterns of selection, representation, and collaboration in the journal’s translation practice. The study adopts a sociological perspective grounded in social network theory, which is used to identify key actors and uncover the complex institutional and interpersonal relationships that underpin the production and dissemination of translated texts. The findings yield new insights into the role of Renditions in shaping Chinese-English literary translation over the past five decades and demonstrate how digital humanities tools can contribute to methodological innovation in translation studies. The study thus provides a robust analytical framework for future research.