Jiehebu or suburb? Towards a translational turn in urban studies

Zhao, Yimin

Abstract

Engaging with reflections on improper urban vocabularies, this article proposes a trans-lational turn to foreground dialogues-rather than equivalences-between languages. Drawing on the philosophies of language and hermeneutics, I adopt 'the fusion of horizons' as an alternative perspective to redefine translation where different languages encounter each other. To better capture global urban experiences, we should recognise the role of translation that exposes us to strangeness and alterity. This point is elaborated with heterogeneous names of the urban frontier, which inform us how and how far appropriating gaps/ distances can initiate creative and unexpected dialogues for more global urban studies.

Citation

Zhao, Y. (2020). Jiehebu or suburb? Towards a translational turn in urban studies. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 13(3), 527-542. https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsaa032

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 7, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 20, 2020
• Publication Date: Dec 23, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jul 22, 2024
• Journal: Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society
• Print ISSN: 1752-1378
• Electronic ISSN: 1752-1386
• Publisher: Cambridge Political Economy Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 527-542
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsaa032
• Keywords: urban studies; epistemology; hermeneutics; comparative urbanism; urban frontiers; China JEL Classifications: N9; O2; Z1
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2609152