Abstract：In China, there have been more and more publications on translation studies by taking the sociological approaches with translation sociology as the representative. However, some problems need to be considered concerning its development. This article, taking a critical perspective, discusses such issues as the relationship between the sociological approach and that of translation sociology, the external circumstance for the rise of the sociological approach, the differences between “translation sociology” and “socio-translation studies” taking the approach of translation sociology as well as the development of Translation Sociology as a discipline. This discussion will hopefully provide new insights into the related studies.
Key words: sociological approach to translation; translation sociology; critical perspective; translation criticism
