Towards an "Outward Turn" in Chinese Interpreting Studies: An attitudinal and conceptual change

Translation and Interpreting Studies (TIS) has gradually come of age after decades of rapid development. More recently, there are calls for an ‘outward’ turn in (written) translation studies (Bassnett & Johnston 2019) in order for the area to engage with other external elements of our world in a more dynamic, confident and interdisciplinary manner. However, as the spoken form, Interpreting Studies (IS) is a latecomer and overall still lags behind its written counterpart. Having moved beyond issues of accuracy, the varying levels of ‘equivalence,' and anecdotal or prescriptivist discussions in terms of how interpreting should be done, IS research now is largely focused on the various internal linguistic patterns and features (Shlesinger 2008; Gumul 2021; Wallmach 2000), the inherent processes and mechanisms of interpreting (Chen 2020; Plevoets and Defrancq 2018; Köpke and Nespoulous 2006), interpreter training (Li 2015; Liu 2005) and the interpreting industry and profession(alism) (Bahadır 2010; Keiser 1999) from a range of perspectives and drawing on different methodological approaches. Despite the important contributions of these studies, they tend to perceive interpreting as a relatively standalone system and a closed practice that can almost only be examined from within. In lieu of this more inward-looking conceptualization seeing interpreting as a self-interested practice, this chapter discusses a possible outward turn in interpreting studies. In particular, focusing on interpreting in the Chinese context, this chapter points towards a few main research strands and future directions relating to this emerging trend in IS that sees interpreting as a vital socio-political and historical shaping force and a crucial source that may contribute meaningfully to other areas and disciplines in a win-win manner.