Research on Translator Role Migration in Digital Business Discourse Ecology

Abstract

Against the background of the rapid development of digital technology, the business discourse ecology has undergone profound transformations, with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies driving systematic migration and reconstruction of the translator’s role. This study focuses on the dynamic evolution of the translator’s role within digital business discourse ecology, and meanwhile, analyses the impact of reconstructed digital translation production mode on translator functions—addressing existing research gaps such as the unclear migration mechanism of translators’ roles under the "technology-culture-business" triple discourse and the mismatch between traditional translation training and industry demands. Employing a mixed-methods design including literature analysis (of 87 core works, 32 international and 55 domestic, 2010–2025), case studies (56 cases across 3 scenarios: cross-border e-commerce, legal contracts, metaverse commerce) and empirical research (300 professional translators, 42% from cross-border e-commerce), it examines characteristics of technological empowerment, modal integration and scenario dynamicity, revealing how intelligent translation production processes, multidimensional standards and collaborative ecology reshape translator’s role. The findings indicate that the translator’s role has expanded from the traditional "language converter" to "technology co-manager," "cross-modal meaning integrator," and "network hub." The core competencies now manifest as a trinity of "technical tool mastery," “cross-dimensional quality judgement" and "network collaborative creativity." These results provide theoretical and practical support for the reform of translation education and the cultivation of interdisciplinary translators.