Globalization and cultural diversity in the book market: The case of literary translations in the US and in France

This paper analyzes the effects of globalization in the book market from the standpoint of linguistic diversity, as assessed by the number of books translated from and into different languages. While the core–periphery model accounts for the global flows of translation, it does not explain the variations within languages according to categories and genres. Using Bourdieu's theory of the field of publishing, this paper compares the market of literary translation in the US and in France. Whereas the pole of large-scale production is dominated by the English language, the pole of small-scale production developed in both countries a strategy of resistance by translating literary works from an increasing number of languages, as a claim in favour of cultural diversity.