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.

CiteSpace was employed in this study to investigate the trends, features, and key topics in overseas studies of second language (L2) written corrective feedback (WCF) from 1996 to 2024 based on the Web of Science database. The results revealed that research on WCF in countries other than China has increased. The studies were mainly published in linguistics and education journals, and featured the integration of psychology and computer science. Starting from the debate about the effectiveness of WCF, research on WCF underwent four shifts in the research foci, namely from external factors to internal psychological factors, from the effects of WCF to its process, from a micro perspective to a macro one, and from teacher and peer feedback to digital intelligence-empowered feedback. Future Chinese studies of WCF could adopt a dynamic, macro perspective to explore the effects of the feedback that is provided by automated writing evaluation systems and large language models on L2 writing performance based on theories such as the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Researchers could further emphasize learners’ cognitive and affective individual differences and their engagement with feedback, and could examine learners’ and teachers’ feedback literacy. It is also suggested that researchers should improve data collection methods by integrating eye tracking, keystroke logging, and neuroimaging techniques to investigate WCF in more depth.

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.

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.

Using a grammaticality judgment test and a Chinese-to-English translation test, the paper explores the acquisition of verbal and adjectival raising constructions by 90 Chinese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). The results revealed that the [EPP] feature was successfully reassembled in the intermediate and advanced groups. No difference between the two types of raising constructions was found because the movement of the argument was triggered by the [EPP] feature in both constructions. In addition, the animacy of the argument influenced the selection of lexical items in the construction of numeration. Both the intermediate and the advanced groups were inclined to producing DP-phrase raising constructions with an inanimate argument; however, expletive-it raising constructions were produced by both groups when the argument was animate. No difference between verbal and adjectival raising constructions was found. The argument in this paper is that the preference stemmed from the semantic relationship between the argument and the verb, as well as due to first language (L1) transfer.

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.

The rapid development and extensive application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have catalyzed transformations in the organizational structure and service models within the language services industry. This paper analyzes the impact of AI technologies on the language services market from both international and domestic perspectives by focusing on the demand and supply sides. It summarizes the developmental trends in the language services industry and provides recommendations for enhancing the industry’s growth and competitiveness. The research results indicate that AI technologies have permeated all the processes involved in language services and have established a human-in-the-loop translation model. Language service providers are strengthening their strategies for digitalization and intelligent development, and are transitioning toward knowledge processes outsourcing providers and global content strategy services providers. It is essential to increase the intelligent construction within China’s language services sector to further professionalize and internationalize the language services industry, to enhance the planning of standard language service systems, and to focus on professional talent development.

The Register-Functional (RF) approach, pioneered by Biber and his colleagues, highlights the importance of the situational characteristics and the communicative purposes of a register that account for its grammatical complexity. The major contribution of this approach includes the identification of phrasal modifiers that contribute to grammatical complexity in academic English and the proposal of hypothesized language developmental stages based on corpus research. In this paper, I present an introduction to the theoretical foundation of RF and its advantages, and provide a review of the development of English writing over the past decade using the RF approach as the framework. Based on a synthesis of the existing research, five aspects are recommended for future research, namely subcategorizing the functions and meanings of the lexico-grammatical patterns that are included in hypothesized language developmental stages, encouraging more case studies that investigate the linear/non-linear developmental trajectory of phrasal complexity features, integrating the use of automatic tools to diversify RF research methods, exploring the most effective modes for teaching phrasal complexity features in source-based writing classes, and applying the RF approach to other languages to establish a system for complexity features that can be adapted to different languages. Taking the characteristics of teaching English in China and research into account, three specific directions are recommended to advance research using the RF approach.

Research concerning the cognitive effects on bilingualism spans over a century, progressing from an early view of bilingual disadvantage, through a period emphasizing on bilingual advantage, to the current debate in which both perspectives coexist and challenge each other. Clarifying this issue is essential not only for understanding human cognitive mechanisms, but also due to its theoretical and practical implications in the teaching of foreign languages. The first focus in this paper is on tracing the origins of the debate, followed by a summary of the key points of contention, and an examination of the current state of the discussion regarding bilingual advantages in three core areas: executive function, creative thinking and theory of mind. The findings suggest that the complexity of both bilingualism and cognition, compounded by ambiguities in the definitions, components, and measurements thereof, underlies the on-going debate. Thus, future research should increasingly adopt the frameworks and methodologies of dynamic systems theory to comprehensively and multidimensionally analyze the effects of bilingualism on cognitive abilities.

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.

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.

In recent years, Eco-Translatology, an interdisciplinary paradigm that integrates ecological wisdom and translation studies, has experienced remarkable advances in both theory and practice. As the prologue to the sequel Eco-Translatology: Translation Dao and Translation Art — a follow-up to the seminal monograph Eco-Translatology: Construction and Interpretation that was published a decade ago — emerging developments in the field are described in this article. Key discussions include a holistic reinterpretation of Eco-Translatology, its life-oriented translation Dao (guiding principles) and source-oriented translation art (practical methodologies), value orientation, eco-translatological cultural construction, and philosophical essence, as well as novel reflections on the discipline’s evolution within AI-driven contexts. These insights are anticipated to enhance the understanding of Eco-Translatology’s theoretical framework while fostering deeper, more systematic research trajectories.

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 creation of large language models has led to a revolution in language services, which have become the new-quality productive force. This paper presents the argument that artificial intelligence (AI) language services are the new-quality productive force, describes the shift from traditional language services to AI language services, defines the concept, the connotations, the market, and education in AI language services with the aim of drawing attention to both the industry and to research on AI language services.

The English series Legends of the Condor Heroes was produced via a collaborative translation effort, and the translators’ behaviors jointly determined the communication effect. In this article, the Translator Behavior Trinity Evaluation System and three semantic frameworks of translation criticism are combined for the first time to compare the translator behavior of Anna Holmwood and Gigi Chang based on their translations of the English series Legends of the Condor Heroes. The results revealed that, according to the semantic framework of behavior criticism from the perspective of behavior-text and the semantic framework of text criticism according to the perspective of text-language, the two translators exhibited different behaviors due to having diff erent identities. As a result of having a dual social role as a translator and as a copyright agent, Holmwood paid particular attention to the acceptability of the translation and her translator behavior tended to be utility-attaining. Having a dual social identity as a translator and as a member of the Chinese diasporic community, Chang attached importance to the adequacy of the translation; hence, her translator behavior tended to be truth-seeking. Despite these differences, based on the semantic framework of eff ect criticism according to the perspective of behavior-society, the two translators’ English translations were evaluated positively in the English-speaking world, which revealed the eff ective communication of the English series Legends of the Condor Heroes.

The intrinsic connection between sensual narratives and artistic resonance lies in sensory perception. Grounded in sensory experiences such as vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, narrative construction relies heavily on vivid descriptions of these modalities. To translate the emotionally compelling force of a text effectively, it is crucial to reconstruct sensory experiences in the target language to enable readers or audiences to empathize with the characters’ emotions and experiences. The English translation of Chen Ran’s feminist novel, A Private Life, is examined in this study by analyzing how sensory narratives are rendered cross-linguistically and cross-culturally. Concrete examples are used to investigate the strategies that were employed to convey the sensory dimensions of the original text, and the methods for introducing contemporary Chinese literature to global audiences through “literary” translations are explored. The findings revealed that shifts in sensory representation within translations altered the degree of bodily presence and weakened or enhanced the emotional impact of the work, thus providing insights for translators of Chinese fiction.

The crisis experienced by foreign language majors in higher education stems from the misalignment between academic development and social needs. For instance, with approximately 1,000 universities and colleges having English majors focusing on linguistics, literature, translation, cross-cultural studies, and country-and-area studies within the Foreign Languages and Literature discipline, undergraduate and graduate students annually and inevitably face intense competition in the job market. The “Four New Constructions” initiative by the Ministry of Education advocates interdisciplinary approaches and major adjustments to meet societal demands. This study finds that language service is the major direction of adjustment for the Foreign Languages and Literature discipline. Foreign language graduates engaged in language services can better fulfill societal needs by applying linguistic theories to explore how knowledge of various disciplines, particularly in natural and technical sciences, is constructed and disseminated. Furthermore, this research demonstrates the necessity and feasibility of interdisciplinary integration in foreign language programs and proposes the establishment of a new sub-discipline, “Linguistics for Specific Purposes”, under the first-level discipline of Foreign Language and Literature to address the demands of language services.

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.

Since 1908, the century-long journey of introducing translations of Burns’ (1759—1796) poetry into China has been marked by numerous outstanding translators who collectively contributed to the evolution of Burns’ poetry translations. The translation of Burns’ poetry was exceptionally active during the Republic of China era (1912—1949), Yuan Shuipai being one of the representative translators at the time. In 1944, Yuan Shuipai published ten poems by Burns in the influential cultural publication Zhongyuan edited by Guo Moruo, and demonstrated his progressive ideology of using poetry as a tool to inspire the people. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Yuan Shuipai exhibited unique translator behavior in his translations of Burns’ poetry. In this paper, we examine Yuan Shuipai’s translator behavior from both the extra-translation and the intra-translation dimensions based on the Critical Theory of Translator Behavior, with a focus on his dual roles as a “social being” and as a “linguistic being”. We explore how Yuan Shuipai prioritized “truth-seeking” over “utility-attaining” in his pursuit of rationalized translations, thereby enriching the study of translations of Burns’ poetry and translator behavior.

In his speech at Oxford University, Hinton introduced the basic principles of artificial neural networks while also criticizing Chomsky’s stimulus poverty theory. This article points out that the way in which “digital intelligence” learns language is not exactly the same as the way in which humans learn language. While human language acquisition involves both innate and acquired factors, digital intelligence needs to learn from large-scale language data and does not encounter the issue of stimulus poverty, as it lacks innate factors. However, we cannot deny the existence of stimulus poverty in human language because digital intelligence does not have this issue. We cannot equate digital intelligence with human intelligence; nor can we neglect the differences between them.

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.

The systematic and theoretical expressions of discourse on the rule of law with Chinese characteristics embody China’s legal wisdom, rule-of-law thoughts, and values. The translation and dissemination of these expressions play a significant role in shaping the Chinese image of the rule of law, constructing a holistic discourse system, and extending the impact of the rule-of-law discourse. In light of this, the connotations and features of the rule-of-law discourse with Chinese characteristics, based on the chapters related to the rule of law in the four volumes of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, are explored in this paper with a particular focus on examining the application of the strategies of standardization and communication in the translation of rule-of-law discourse. The aim is to provide inspiration and effective approaches for promoting Chinese rule-of-law thoughts accurately and increasing the impact of the international dissemination of Chinese rule-of-law discourse.

Responding to national strategic needs and highlighting social public interests constitute the core orientations and guiding principles of China’s translation research in the new era. Professor Zhang Wei has comprehensively elaborated on the importance of translation studies for national strategic development in the new era; he delved into essential topics such as the principles and developmental directions of translation research, key focus areas of translation research from a national strategic perspective, debates about and the evolution of translation theories with Chinese characteristics, core issues in Chinese-to-foreign translation studies, international communications of discourse with Chinese characteristics, the social value of translation research, the development of translation textbooks, and the impacts and challenges that artificial intelligence poses for the translation profession. This interview facilitates a holistic understanding of the developmental strategies and key issues in China’s translation studies in the new era, thereby promoting the sustainable advancement of translation research in China.

This paper consists of two parts. The first part presents the opening address delivered by Professor Xu Jun at the 4^th Translator Behavior Studies Forum. The second part provides a commentary by Professor Zhou Lingshun, the founder of translator behavior theory. The commentary includes his personal research trajectory and future directions, as well as the new perspectives and expanded pathways demonstrated in the field of translation studies. Both parts focus on the study of translator behavior and are expected to promote the in-depth development of translator behavior studies.

Foreign-language teaching materials are crucial resources for cultivating high-quality talents in higher education, making research on the development of teaching materials essential. The concept of new quality productive forces and the rationale for empowering the development of foreign-language teaching materials were explored in this study. Based on relevant data, it identified the main problems with current foreign-language teaching materials in higher education, such as outdated content, an overemphasis on knowledge over skills, and the insufficient support of new forms of materials for both teaching and learning. Furthermore, this study discusses several pathways for the development of foreign-language teaching materials, including ideas, content, the presentation format, the team structure, and mechanisms with the aim of providing insights that will facilitate the construction of high-quality foreign-language teaching materials.

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.

Modern art has lost its traditional determining factors and has not yet obtained new ones, which makes modern works of art often seem strange and even absurd; this situation has repeatedly evoked reflections concerning the nature of art. Nietzsche opened a path to the original state of life through art criticism from the modern perspective by responding to the question regarding the nature of modern art. Nietzsche believed that, in the process of creating art, the artist discarded their identity as a “subject”, dissolved the world structure of subject-object, and entered the original level of life in order to encounter the “nothingness” directly and to feel the abundance of vitality in order to gain the intoxicating experience of Dionysus. Nietzsche pointed out that it was in this very process that the experience of Dionysus was able to enter the work of art and to manifest itself as the nature of art.

The concept of the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature is a contemporary issue that all human beings encounter. The 19^th-century female British writer, Mary Shelley, criticized the anthropocentrism that was inherent in the 18^th-century Age of Enlightenment in her novel The Last Man. Shelley warned about the catastrophic consequences resulting from human cognition based on the binary oppositions in the man-nature relationship, and expressed the ecological ideal of following the rules of nature, humans coexisting with nature, and humans taking responsibility for rebuilding the human-nature relationship. This novel, which was ahead of its time, warned about the potential threats that the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution would pose for nature and humankind; the ecological ideas correspond to connotations with the contemporary ideal of building a “Life Community”. Re-reading The Last Man from this perspective is a new attempt at a cultural exchange between Chinese thought and Western literature, and will shed light on how to manage the challenges that are encountered by posthuman society.

The theoretical research on separable words in Modern Chinese since the publication of Word Formation in Chinese (Lu Zhiwei et al., 1957) is systematically reviewed in this paper. Among the studies, research based on traditional grammar has mainly focused on defi ning the nature of separable words, while research based on modern linguistic theories has analyzed the formation methods of separable words and has attempted to explain the underlying reasons for their existence in Modern Chinese. However, there are many inadequacies in these studies despite their explanatory strengths. In this paper, we argue that the study of separable words in Modern Chinese requires a more comprehensive and in-depth exploration of areas such as describing the phenomena entailed in separation, defining the forms of separation, identifying the typical characteristics of separable words, and conducting cross-language and cross-dialect comparisons. The seeming oddity in Modern Chinese, which appears to contradict Western theories about words, raises the question of whether it reveals certain unique properties or the essence of Chinese, or whether it should be understood within the context of universal phenomena in world languages. This necessitates further investigation and research.

The focus in the present article is on the exploration of how social semiotics can be applied to the construction of multimodal discourse through disciplinary semiotics and transdisciplinary semiotics in applied semiotics. The relationship between social semiotics and applied semiotics is discussed first, followed by an exploration of disciplinary semiotics and transdisciplinary semiotics in the field of applied semiotics, as well as their relationship with multimodal discourse studies. Finally, how social semiotics can solve the related problems through the integration of modes on the transdisciplinary platform and the creation of an implementation framework for the construction of multimodal discourse is proposed. The findings revealed that, as a branch of general semiotics, social semiotics can be employed to solve problems within and between disciplines through transdisciplinary platforms on the basis of its feature of appliability, which can be implemented through the integration of modes, resulting in the construction of multimodal discourse.

Curriculum construction has been widely practiced in China, but few studies have examined it from the perspective of professional learning communities (PLC). Accordingly, the challenges and strategies within a PLC of English language teachers developing a Chinese culture course, framed by activity theory, were explored in this study. Using a case study methodology, the findings revealed four main contradictions that the PLC encountered: (1) divergent views about the course objectives, (2) insufficient cultural knowledge and demanding course content, (3) a mismatch between the desired teaching approach and the actual teaching practices, and (4) conflicts with other activity systems. To address these contradictions, the PLC implemented mediating tools such as expert guidance, creative literature reading sessions, and peer support. These actions enhanced the teachers’ cultural knowledge and pedagogical skills, as well as their professional and personal growth. The study has implications for designing and implementing foreign language courses pertaining to the Chinese culture and fostering teachers’ development.

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.

In terms of discipline attribution and the theoretical integration of studies of eco-translatology, the research pedigree and thinking forms of Eco-Translatology require systematic summarization and theoretical refinement in order to reveal the entire profile of the eco-translatological theory system. The research pedigree of eco-translatology consists of theoretical research, descriptive research, and applied research. Of these, the “quadrilife-oriented view” draws on the field of general theory for theoretical research, the “trilife-oriented configuration” is the object of its descriptive research, and “green translation” is the new issue of its applied research. Thinking forms of Eco-Translatology consist of life-oriented thinking, existence-oriented thinking, and eco-thinking. Life-oriented thinking is referred to as “translation as textual transplant,” existence-oriented thinking involves “translation as adaptation/selection,” and eco-thinking is related to “translation as eco-balance.” The systematic formation of the eco-translatology research pedigree is of tremendous importance in the construction of the eco-translatological discourse and knowledge systems.

The paradigm of generative grammar is adopted as the theoretical framework in this paper to examine the development of second language (L2) syntax-morphology by investigating the acquisition of the D category and its features by Chinese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Ninety-seven learners with an onset age of 12 or older were divided into three groups according to their L2 language proficiency. The participants were tested on their use of English determiners in four different tasks (i.e., Oral Test, Question-Answer Task, Discourse Error Correction Task, and Forced-choice Elicitation Task). The results showed that the learners’ performances regarding article determiner, the indefinite article or the indefinite specific plural, were lower than they were for non-article determiner, the definite article or the definite specific plural. It is argued that the complexity of feature reassembly, which involves such factors as language differences, the nature and the number of the features in the combination, hinders EFL learners’ acquisition of English determiners because these factors affect mapping between abstract syntactic knowledge and surface morphological forms, thus restricting the development of L2 syntax-morphology. The L2 D-Feature Combination Complexity Hypothesis that is presented in this paper is an advancement of the current (syntax-morphology) mapping theory, which does not address factors that affect mapping, with the aim of revealing the causes of variability in L2 acquisition.

Western missionaries played a significant role in translating and introducing Shakespeare’s plays to China during the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, yet related studies in the literature remain scarce. The perspective of identity construction is adopted in this paper to analyze the Chinese translations of Shakespeare’s plays entitled Wanrou Ji, Haiguo Quyu, and Shashibiya de Gushi by three missionaries, namely Laura M. White (1914-1915), Isaac Mason (1918), and Madge D. Mateer (1929). The findings revealed that the missionary translators constructed two types of identities, which were their default identities as religious disseminators and their deviational identities as adapters, evaluators, and cultural mediators in the main texts and paratexts of their Chinese translations. The construction of these identities displays the complex ideological frameworks of Western missionaries in modern China, who not only carried out their missionary work but also contributed to the dissemination and reception of Shakespeare’s plays in China.

According to the core principle of Embodied-Cognitive Linguistics, “Reality-Cognition-Language”, we have developed “symmetrical embodied cognitive strategy” in our minds due to the ubiquitous phenomenon of symmetry in the external world; this has led to the emergence of numerous symmetrical expressions in language, particularly in Chinese, in which a large number of symmetrical phenomena appear at various levels, such as phonetics, characters, vocabulary, syntax, and discourse. We intend to regard this as the most important grammatical mechanism in Chinese, which belongs to the category of “isolating languages”. By contrast, languages such as English, which are “inflecting languages”, require word forms to be adjusted according to grammatical rules when included in a sentence to maintain a strict correspondence between word classes and syntactic components. This is called the “word-based” grammatical theory. In recent years, many scholars have found this theory to be unsuitable for constructing Chinese grammar; although various X-based theories have emerged in China, they have all overlooked “the symmetrical strategy” that is widely used in Chinese. When conducting comparative studies of English and Chinese, it is essential to emphasize the difference between “correspondence and symmetry”, as this difference is important for language research and teaching.

In this article, the topic under discussion is once again “extra-translation” from the perspectives of the scope in translator behavior studies in the light of translator behavior criticism, the extra-translation agents and the classification thereof, the extra-translation agents in the translation process, and extra-translation as part of translator behavior studies as the overall field of research. Not only is the scope in translator behavior studies developed in this article, but ideas concerning human orientation and interactions are also presented. This article will be helpful for describing the translation process as part of process research and enhancing the operability of translation criticism.

Professor Hu Gengshen’s academic journey, practice, and research spanned nine cities and over five decades. In this paper, Professor Hu’s academic life is investigated according to five aspects: the nine cities in his academic journey, his academic achievements, his scholarly methods, his reputation as the founder of Eco-Translatology, and his wisdom in life. His innovations in academic research and his outstanding contributions to translation schools are analyzed, and his scholarly methods and wisdom in life are summarized with the aim of showcasing the long-term efforts and accumulated expertise behind the success of this translation theorist in the hope of setting an example for future scholars.

The bibliometric software CiteSpace was used to conduct a visual analysis of research articles on metadiscourse that were published in international journals from 2006 to 2024 based on the Web of Science database. In this article, we present the most frequently cited references and prestigious authors, and investigate the knowledge base, research frontiers, and important topics in international metadiscourse studies. The results revealed that metadiscourse research is increasing and developing rapidly, particularly since 2014, with a significant increase in both publication volume and citation count. Moreover, high-impact and high-centrality references mainly focus on metadiscourse conceptions, research models, and research paradigms, and the research topics and important academic issues are academic discourses, metadiscourse markers, corpus data, linguistic features, and disciplinary differences. These findings could help domestic researchers to understand the trends in international metadiscourse research in more detail and provide valuable insights for metadiscourse research in China.

The aim of this study was to explore the influence of peer interaction on learning engagement in English classrooms through the mediating effect of academic self-efficacy. The study’s participants were 1,143 non-English majors; the quantitative data were analyzed via a descriptive analysis, a multiple regression analysis, and structural equation modeling. Some of the participants were then invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that the content and mode of peer interaction were both positive predicters of the three dimensions of learning engagement; while the perception of peer resources positively predicted cognitive and behavioral engagement, it did not significantly affect emotional engagement. Moreover, peer interaction was a direct positive predicter of learning engagement in English classrooms; it also indirectly affected learning engagement via academic self-efficacy, with academic self-efficacy playing a mediating role in the relationship between peer interaction and learning engagement in English classrooms. The transcription and analysis of the interviews confirmed these quantitative results. The study enhances the understanding of the path relationship between peer interaction and learning engagement in English classrooms, thereby providing insights for teachers to improve learning engagement through both peer interaction and academic self-efficacy.