TITLE:
A Study on the Subjectivity of Fan Translators in the Digital Age—A Case Study of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast
AUTHORS:
Shuang Yao
KEYWORDS:
Fan Translation, Translator Subjectivity, Podcast, Romance of the Three Kingdoms
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.4,
April
21,
2026
ABSTRACT: As an emerging force in global cultural exchanges, fan translators have brought new opportunities for Chinese classical literature to reach a worldwide audience. This paper takes the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast created by fan translator John Zhu as a case study to analyze the characteristics of fan translator subjectivity. The research finds that fan translators, in terms of translation motivation, translation strategies, and community interaction, transcend the passive role of traditional professional translators by exercising their subjective initiative, thereby enhancing the overseas reception of the text. This research reveals the multi-dimensional characteristics of fan translators’ subjectivity in the digital age and highlights the unique value and potential of fan translation in facilitating the global dissemination of Chinese literary works.