@article{ART003318646},
author={Hyeon-woong Kim},
title={Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis},
journal={The Journal of Translation Studies},
issn={1229-795X},
year={2026},
volume={27},
number={1},
pages={127-162},
doi={10.15749/jts.2026.27.1.004}
TY - JOUR
AU - Hyeon-woong Kim
TI - Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis
JO - The Journal of Translation Studies
PY - 2026
VL - 27
IS - 1
PB - The Korean Association for Translation Studies
SP - 127
EP - 162
SN - 1229-795X
AB - Indirect translation remains a practical necessity, yet little research has examined how its inherent challenges are addressed. This case study investigates how such challenges were managed in the indirect translation of Anna Komnene’s the Alexiad from Medieval Greek into Korean via English. Drawing on interviews with Yen-Sue Kim, the project manager, and In-Sik Jang, one of the translators, the study employs Actor-Network Theory to analyze the translation process through Callon’s four moments of translation: problematization, interessement, enrollment, and mobilization. The findings show that Kim, the network’s focal actor, anticipated the difficulties of indirect translation and adopted a compilative translation strategy. In identifying and recruiting key actors, including translators, a language reviewer, a copyeditor, financial sponsors, and mediating texts, she offered financial compensation, which proved crucial in securing the translators’ participation. She further expanded the actors’ roles strategically, an important step in addressing potential problems. Ultimately, the mobilization of multiple actors played a central role in controlling the “treason” of mediating texts and translators. The discussion highlights two factors that contributed to effective and sustainable ways of addressing problems: (1) a mode of collaborative translation that mobilized diverse actors to complement translators’ work and (2) a process led by a focal actor that exercised control over network formation and resource distribution.
KW - Indirect translation;issues in indirect translation;actor-network theory (ANT);Alexias (The Alexiad);compilative translation;process-oriented research
DO - 10.15749/jts.2026.27.1.004
ER -
Hyeon-woong Kim. (2026). Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis. The Journal of Translation Studies, 27(1), 127-162.
Hyeon-woong Kim. 2026, "Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis", The Journal of Translation Studies, vol.27, no.1 pp.127-162. Available from: doi:10.15749/jts.2026.27.1.004
Hyeon-woong Kim "Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis" The Journal of Translation Studies 27.1 pp.127-162 (2026) : 127.
Hyeon-woong Kim. Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis. 2026; 27(1), 127-162. Available from: doi:10.15749/jts.2026.27.1.004
Hyeon-woong Kim. "Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis" The Journal of Translation Studies 27, no.1 (2026) : 127-162.doi: 10.15749/jts.2026.27.1.004
Hyeon-woong Kim. Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis. The Journal of Translation Studies, 27(1), 127-162. doi: 10.15749/jts.2026.27.1.004
Hyeon-woong Kim. Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis. The Journal of Translation Studies. 2026; 27(1) 127-162. doi: 10.15749/jts.2026.27.1.004
Hyeon-woong Kim. Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis. 2026; 27(1), 127-162. Available from: doi:10.15749/jts.2026.27.1.004
Hyeon-woong Kim. "Addressing the inherent issues in the indirect translation process of the Alexiad: An actor-network analysis" The Journal of Translation Studies 27, no.1 (2026) : 127-162.doi: 10.15749/jts.2026.27.1.004
