Volume 4, No. 2.
INContext: Studies in Translation and Interculturalism
Dear Readers,
We at InContext are pleased to announce that the esteemed global publishing house, John Benjamins, has signed in October 2024 as the publisher of InContext. Having reflected both sides' enthusiasm, we have already begun the streamlining and adjustment process needed to optimize possible synergy that we surely will garner from this new collaboration relationship. Starting January 2026, all issues will be published under the JB's umbrella. With this new turnaround, interest and participation in InContext as a unique forum that marries translation and intercultural studies will gain further momentum and growth. We encourage you to explore our upcoming issues and share your thoughts and feedback with us.
The special article of the November 2024 issue, A Study of the Values of the 'Independence Generation' in Post-Soviet Central Asia (Kalanova Dilnoza and Lee Ji-eon), introduces us to the contrastive value systems between the youth, or the 'Independence Generation,' and their parents, the 'socialist generation.' The challenges this new generation (with an average age of just 27.8 years) face are also discussed to allow us to envision the nation's future, which this generation will mold.
Three articles on Interculturalism present unique perspectives on cross-cultural communication and provoke thought on different traditions. Folklore Surrounding Japanese House Nameplates (Soichiro Sunami) sheds light on the long-inherited superstition of placing house nameplates in line with Japan's belief system in which the public viewed the plates as a way to prevent misfortune from entering the home. How does Generative AI Function as an Active Cross-cultural Communications Agent? (Masato Tahara) offers a case study on AI translation of a Taiwanese novel, focusing on reader assessment and cultural nuances. From the Land of Morning Calm to Dynamic Korea (Yung Chul Lee) provides a social scientist's perspective on the dynamism of contemporary Korean culture, exploring the Korean people's character, social structure, and social mobility.
The three articles along the Translation Studies axis are noteworthy as they expand the research topic's scope by proposing a practical model or introducing real-world workflow. Relay Translation as Collaboration (Cheong Ho-Jeong and Lim Hyun-Kyung) adds a new dimension to the study of relay translation, which used to be stigmatized as 'indirect' or 'less authentic.' Driven by the practical need of the ever-expanding global content providers and world viewers alike, the authors propose the dual definition of the term by opening up a narrow yet field-anchored definition that recognizes the industrialized form of collaborative translation where 'pivot templators' functions as "translators for the subsequent translators" and cultural mediators. A Crisis Translation Maturity Model for Better Multilingual Crisis Communication (Patrick Cadwell, Sharon O’Brien, Aline Larroyed, and Federico M. Federici) discusses a crisis translation maturity model to assist organizations in evaluating translations to ensure accurate, timely, and trusted communication to optimize equity and inclusivity in crisis settings. The Translatability of Multilingualism in Taiwan (Yuhui Lee) delves into a phenomenon where the visibility of multilingualism in a Taiwanese novel is drastically diminished in its English translation due to the characteristics of the dominant target language and the linguistic distance involved.
As the editor-in-chief, I sincerely express my deep gratitude to those who have exercised concerted efforts to advance InContext as one of the established international journals in TS and Interculturalism. As our collaboration with JB has opened a new possibility to that end, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with JB. Most of all, however, my thanks go to the readers of our Journal, who have made its publication meaningful.
Cheong Ho-Jeong
Editor-in-Chief