The practical and instrumental rationalities of translation have significantly influenced the perception of the function and value of translation studies. A major reason for the long-term marginalization of translation studies in institutionalized academia lies in its failure to systematically and effectively explore translation’s practical value, and to construct a scientific disciplinary, academic, and discourse system. The disciplinary construction of translation studies began when linguistics incorporated it as a subdiscipline, followed by a wave of cultural translation studies that focused on literary text translation. Language serves as the medium of translation, culture as one of its contextual elements, and literary translation encompasses complex translation issues. Therefore, the traditional research approaches and orientations in translation studies are not only justified but will continue to constitute essential components of the field. However, the function of translation studies should not be limited to exploring the intrinsic value of translation; it should also investigate its extrinsic effects, namely how translation impacts the development of human civilization. Extending this to pragmatic translation studies, its scope should encompass practical translation studies, pragmatic translation studies, and appliable translation studies. This paper emphasizes that constructing a discourse system for pragmatic translation studies and strengthening its pragmatic research have urgent disciplinary needs and practical significance.

The human-AI interactive language-learning environment, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), presents new opportunities for self-regulated learning (SRL). However, the specific manifestations of SRL within this environment still require further exploration. To address this, a three-level coding has been conducted using MAXQDA 12 software, based on grounded theory by analyzing retrospective logs and interview data from 30 graduate students majoring in English. In addition, a theoretical saturation test has been performed to check the coding results with the aim of identifying the specific manifestations of SRL in human-AI interactive language-learning environments and to construct a theoretical model of SRL. The SRL model that has been developed in this study consists of three phases: personalized learning planning, SRL implementation, and reflection on learning process and outcomes. The personalized learning planning phase includes a needs analysis, experience seeking, goal-plan setting, and recommendation and selection of learning resources. The SRL implementation phase encompasses task completion, human-AI collaborative assessment, human-AI monitoring and regulation, human-AI supportive guidance, and community interaction. The reflection-on-learning-process-and-outcomes phase focuses on summarizing effective outcomes and identifying areas that requires improvement. This three-phase SRL model not only expands the theoretical perspectives on SRL, but also provides intervention strategies to enhance learners’ SRL capabilities in human-AI interactive language-learning environments.

The facilitative role of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in learning English as a foreign language (EFL) has been widely acknowledged, and students’ attitudes toward GenAI have a significant influence on the adoption of GenAI technologies. While current scales can assess students’ attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI), they are not tailored to GenAI. Therefore, the reliability and validity of the existing scales require reconsideration. To address the research gaps, this study was to develop and validate a scale to assess Chinese university students’ attitudes toward GenAI-assisted EFL learning. Our study comprises two separate samples. As for Sample 1 (n=379), we used an exploratory factor analysis to develop a scale consisting of 15 items that we categorized according to three dimensions (affect, behavior, and cognition), explaining a total variance of 65.719%. As for Sample 2 (n=418), a confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that this three-factor structure was appropriate. In addition, we evaluated the scale’s criterion validity, internal consistency, and measurement invariance across genders, and found a strong performance across these measures. Thus, the scale developed in this study exhibited robust psychometric properties, and can effectively assess Chinese learners’ attitudes toward GenAI-assisted language learning in the context of Chinese universities.

Research on teachers’ digital literacies is a burgeoning topic in foreign language education; thus, understanding the status quo of teachers’ digital literacy development is an important prerequisite for the emerging field of technology-empowered foreign language education. Using questionnaires and interviews as the research methodology, the present study aims to assess the development of the digital literacies of 316 English teachers in elementary and secondary schools in China and to identify the factors that influence the teachers’ development of digital literacies. The results has revealed that the overall development of teachers’ digital literacies is desirable, and the ranking of the dimensions of teachers’ digital literacies is as follows: digital morality > digital attitude > digital awareness > digital ability > digital knowledge. In addition, factors such as age and educational background have a significant impact on the development of teachers’ digital literacies, while gender and school location have no significant impact. Digital nativity significantly influences teachers’ digital literacy. Finally, corresponding countermeasures to intervene in and to improve the development of foreign language teachers’ digital literacies are proposed, echoing the call for AI-empowered foreign language teaching and the facilitation of teachers’ professional development.

Four forums on translator behavior studies and two seminars on local cultural translation and dissemination have greatly advanced the studies of translator behavior criticism, which has entered a new phase. By reviewing the academic achievements regarding criticisms of translator behavior since the first forum in 2019 and examining the development of Zhou Lingshun’s thoughts on translator behavior studies, it has been found that a research path of “constructing theory-verifying the validity of the theory-strengthening the evaluation of the theory-taking roots in practice” has been established over the past five years (2019-2024) with the aim of “sustainable development”, exhibiting the following characteristics: First, theoretical construction, particularly the construction of the social dimension, is constantly being strengthened via the construction of a trinity evaluation system of “text-behavior-society” to achieve a comprehensive evaluation of translator behavior. Second, translator behavior criticism theory is investigated from both practical and academic perspectives through various means, such as publications, Q&A sessions, dialogues, and specialized columns, with its utility and operability being greatly improved. Third, the theory has been assessed in terms of its academic, innovative, and scientific value from multiple perspectives. Fourth, theoretical constructions and interpretations are closely correlated with practice, with theories guiding practice and practice extending the theory.

Metaphors are not only a convenient way for humans to communicate with each other and to gain insights into internal and external worlds, but are also an indispensable tool for thought. However, while metaphors have definite practical functions, they also inevitably emerge in conjunction with biases, narrow scopes, and even threats. In this paper, the metaphorical thoughts of the distinguished master of pragmatics, Jacob Mey, are traced from the perspectives of speech acts, pragmatic acts, embodied experiences, and ecology, and are categorized as follows: (1) Metaphor is a socially-oriented dynamic situational speech act; (2) Metaphor is a pragmatic act; (3) Metaphor is a practical activity rooted in the social context; (4) Metaphor is an ecological tool; and (5) Metaphor has two sides, with both “benefits” and “drawbacks” coexisting. Given the nature of metaphors as a “double-edged sword”, Mey has pointed out that, when using metaphors, it is necessary to reveal the social relations that they reflect and the mental and physical labor that they embodies. In order for metaphors to serve humanity more efficiently, we need to understand metaphors by having an open and inclusive attitude, to approach metaphors from a broad and multidimensional perspective, and to utilize metaphors rationally and in an appropriate manner.

The advent of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly reshaping the language service industry, and is having a profound impact on its supply-demand dynamics, the industry structure, and the overall industry ecosystem. GenAI’s enhanced capabilities have led to increased productivity and supply chain flexibility, driving demand growth and structural shifts in the industry. This expansion of the value chain, while presenting new opportunities, also challenges the traditional translator’s role. As traditional translators encounter potential shifts or transformations in translation tasks, new and specialized roles, such as data annotation and model training, are emerging, requiring language service professionals to develop an evolving skillset. To navigate this evolving landscape, language service education must adapt to cultivate a new generation of professionals capable of thriving in the GenAI era. The study analyzes the multifaceted impact of GenAI on the language service sector and provides insights into and recommendations for educational innovation and talent development strategies to ensure a sustainable future.

How can the use of ChatGPT in the process of writing poetry in Chinese and in English facilitate the generation of high-quality texts for present-day intercultural communications? Speaking of this particular aid function, what are the potentials and limitations of ChatGPT? In this article, Emerson’s poetic thoughts about creativity are used as major theoretical references, and textual constructions of poetic images are set as a starting point for further inquiries. A contrastive analysis of various human-created and ChatGPT-generated texts of poetry writing is conducted, and the irreplaceability of the human spirit in the sustainable practice of poetry writing is discussed. Moreover, the possibility of reintegrating and regenerating multiple poetic images is explored, and the need to improve the quality of newly emerging poetic texts through human-and-ChatGPT collaborative creative endeavors is emphasized.

Based on the paradigm of syntactic cartography, or more specifically the cartography of light verbs, this paper proposes that Chinese pivotal constructions can be reclassified into two types: causative pivotal constructions and causal pivotal constructions. Both types of constructions consist of two light verb zones, namely upper and lower zones. Each zone contains two layers of light verbs: an internal light verb layer and an external light verb layer. The external light verbs in the upper and lower zones form semantic chains. Specifically, the semantic chain of causative pivotal constructions is “CAUSE-BECOME”, while the semantic chain of causal pivotal constructions is “DO-FOR”. Furthermore, it is argued that various Chinese pivotal constructions share a universal underlying structure, thus facilitating a unified analysis. Following this reasoning, the so-called “pivotal” element in Chinese pivotal constructions is the result of haplology, as the Theme in the first event and the Agent in the second event are phonologically identical. Consequently, no violation of the theta criterion occurs. Syntactic cartography provides a useful tool to “zoom in” on a detailed map of the syntactic structure to account for the interaction between the complexity of the surface structure and the simplicity of the underlying structure to reveal the principle of economy in human language in more detail.

The importance of international publicity translation in promoting Chinese culture internationally, particularly in the context of “sharing China’s stories”, is undeniable. At present, numerous areas require extensive improvements in the translation-related courses at STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) universities, including English-Chinese and Chinese-English translation courses. In fact, relevant reforms and explorations are of tremendous importance for these institutions of higher education. Against this backdrop, STEM universities should place greater emphasis on cultivating English majors’ awareness of and competence in international publicity translation to help them to better align with China’s national strategies and to cultivate foreign language talents who can serve the needs of contemporary Chinese society. It is argued that the principles and requirements of international publicity translation should be organically integrated into the country’s ideological and political education in the process of reforming the translation courses for English majors at STEM universities. These endeavors should aim to comprehensively enhance English majors’ awareness of promoting advanced scientific and technological knowledge across the world, as well as enhancing their abilities and skills in translating and publicizing the results of scientific Chinese research across different regions, thereby achieving the coordinated development of cultural confidence and the cultural identity of the Chinese people.

Language security is not only an important emerging field that requires a holistic approach to the expansion of national security, but is also one of the fundamental elements that impacts various aspects of national security. Viewed from the perspective of a holistic approach to national security, language security fully embodies the value of the application of language planning. This paper analyzes the security dimension of language planning studies, advocates for a comprehensive and systematic study of language security planning, and predominantly discusses advancements in language security planning studies across three dimensions: theory, method, and application. The aim of this study is to provide a theoretical foundation and practical references for establishing the disciplinary framework of national language security planning.