A Critical Review of Research on Ethics of Crowdsourced Translation at Home and Abroad (2009–2024)
School of Foreign Languages, Wuhan Qingchuan University, Wuhan 430000, China
| Abstract: | With the rapid development of global crowdsourced translation practices, research on the phenomenon’s multifaceted ethical dimensions has steadily progressed. This paper presents the first critical review of Chinese and English studies on crowdsourced translation ethics, aiming to shed light on the state-of-art of the field and advise on its continuing development. Through a thorough analysis of the literature focused on crowdsourced translation ethics from major Chinese and English academic resource platforms, including CNKI, Scopus and Web of Science, this study identifies six prominent themes emerging from the existing research: research into crowdsourced translation quality, research on the relational dynamics among stakeholders, research on the issue of economic exploitation, research on crowdsourced translation’s impacts on professional translators, research on ethical guidelines for crowdsourced translation, and holistic treatment of crowdsourced translation ethics. By critiquing these studies in terms of content, methodology, and practical application, the paper highlights their several significant limitations: a lack of in-depth engagement with micro-level ethical issues, insufficient normative ethical theorization, and weak relevance to real-world contexts. Accordingly, the study proposes several pragmatic directions for future research: deepening the exploration of microethics in crowdsourced translation, developing or adapting normative ethical frameworks, and aligning research with practical ethical problem-solving and pressing social demands. |
| Keywords: | Translation Ethics; Crowdsourced Translation; Translation Technology; Research Review in Translation Studies |
| DOI: | 10.57237/j.cll.2025.04.002 |
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Received: 14 September 2025
Accepted: 29 September 2025
Published Online: 27 October 2025
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