The current state of Russian and Chinese ecotranslation studies: a scientometric approach

The article presents a new approach to conducting scientometric analysis using the example of ecotranslatology and the ecology of translation from the perspective of the ecocentric paradigm in modern Russian and Chinese translation studies. The aim of the research is to characterize the current state of ecotranslation studies in Russia and China based on a scientometric analysis using the digital VOSVIEWER programme, which serves as a tool for visualizing the obtained data. The material for the analysis consisted of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the Russian Scientific Electronic Library (eLIBRARY.RU) databases. The analysis of publications was conducted using the key words in Chinese corresponding to ecotranslatology and ecology of translation, covering the period from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2023. The analysis procedure consisted of three stages. In the first and second stages, scientometric indicators were manually collected from Russianlanguage and Chinese-language databases. In the third stage, automated digital visual maps were created using the VOSVIEWER programme, which selects key terms and visualizes them in the form of clusters. It was found that the volume of Chinese-language research significantly exceeds the number of Russian-language publications. It was also established that the ecotranslatological paradigm developed by Chinese researchers addresses a wide range of issues related to translation ecology, whose key concepts include the translation ecosystem, translation eco-environment, and the translator's ecological responsibility. In the works of Russian researchers, the ecology of translation views translation as an interaction of ecosystems based on the principles of cultural adequacy and natural adequacy, implying that the translated text naturally integrates into the receiving cultural and natural ecoenvironment and enriches it. The results of the study demonstrated the active development of ecotranslatology in China and the growing interest in the ecology of translation in Russian academic discourse, which indicates the relevance of this research field and its potential for further exploration. The potential for integrating Russian and Chinese ecotranslation concepts is demonstrated by correlating the criteria for a quality translation, i.e. harmony and eco-friendliness, which is illustrated through an eco-cognitive analysis of a poetic text translated from Russian into Chinese.