Dr Yuan Zou
About
Biography
I am a Lecturer in Translation Studies at the University of Surrey's Centre for Translation Studies (CTS). My background spans audiovisual translation (AVT), interpreting, and post-editing. I hold a PhD in AVT from Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and an MTI in Translation and interpreting from Jilin University.
Before joining Surrey, I was teaching Interpreting and Translation at QUB, and I engaged in freelance work as a translator and interpreter. These experiences have been instrumental in shaping my research direction and pedagogical approach.
I am currently focused on the integration of language technologies in the fields of interpreting and audiovisual translation (AVT), with a keen interest in harnessing these advancements to improve digital accessibility. I am actively investigating innovative ways in which technology can be harnessed to support and improve access for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that digital content is more inclusive and accessible to all audiences.
Areas of specialism
University roles and responsibilities
- I look after CTS Employability Programme, including professional engagement seminars and portfolios (PEP), internships, and Career Fairs.
My qualifications
Business, industry and community links
ResearchResearch interests
My research focuses on audio description, accessibility, and AI-enhanced approaches to inclusive communication. I explore how digital media (film, TV, and video games) can be made accessible through innovative and evidence-based methods. My work bridges audiovisual translation, human-computer interaction, and inclusive design.
Research projects
Start date: September 2024
End date: November 2025
Start date: September 2024
End date: August 2025
Research interests
My research focuses on audio description, accessibility, and AI-enhanced approaches to inclusive communication. I explore how digital media (film, TV, and video games) can be made accessible through innovative and evidence-based methods. My work bridges audiovisual translation, human-computer interaction, and inclusive design.
Research projects
Start date: September 2024
End date: November 2025
Start date: September 2024
End date: August 2025
Supervision
Postgraduate research supervision
Second supervisor of Najat Alhuthali's PhD thesis on legal machine translation.
Second supervisor of Olivia Hollins Molinero’s PhD thesis on Audio Description and Inclusive Gaming.
Teaching
Modules taught this academic year
TRAM513: PUBLIC SERVICE INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATION
This module introduces students to the professional dimension of the different fields of Public Service Interpreting and Translation(PSIT). It covers current issues such as the specific ethical requirements, codes of conduct, working conditions and legislation associated with PSI, as well as new trends in a constantly evolving industry and their repercussions on the PSIT landscape.
TRAM498: AUDIOVISUAL TRANSLATION
In this module, students learn about the distinctive features of multimodal translation, such as subtitling, dubbing, audio description and live subtitling. The module introduces students to the main challenges in each mode of audiovisual translation across a variety of genres, such as film, documentaries and video games. As such, the module will combine tutor-led components and components with a prominent practical element.
I also collaborate in the following module:
TRAM496: TRANSLATION AS HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION
This module is an introduction to the practice of translation with the support of the most advanced technologies available, focusing on the demand for translators to possess expert skills to be in command of their performance and in control of the outputs of their work. The module is informed by the evolution of requirements of professional translation, namely under the influence of advanced technologies like machine translation. The focus of the module is on the interaction between translators and the computer tools that they use.
TRAM493: PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATION PRACTICE I
Previous years:
My teaching included Public Service Interpreting, Commercial Interpreting, Consecutive Interpreting and Simultaneous Interpreting, as well as English-Chinese translation workshops.
Sustainable development goals
My research interests are related to the following:
Publications
Highlights
Zou, Y., & Blumczynski, P. (2025). Translating Knowledge(s) across Time and Space: Audiovisual Translation of “Traditional Chinese Medicine and Culture” Open Course (a Case Study). Journal of Audiovisual Translation, 8(2), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.47476/jat.v8i2.2025.368
Davitti, E., Sandrelli, A., Korybski, T., Zou, Y., Orasan, C., & Braun, S. (2024). Using ASR Tools to Produce Automatic Subtitles for TV Broadcasting: A Cross-Linguistic Comparative Analysis . Journal of Audiovisual Translation, 7(2), 1–35. https://doi.org/10.47476/jat.v7i2.2024.305
Ho, C-E & Zou, Y (2023). Teaching interpreting in the time of COVID: exploring the feasibility of using Gather. in K Liu & AKF Cheung (eds), Translation and Interpreting in the age of COVID-19. Corpora and Intercultural Studies, vol. 9, Springer, Singapore, Singapore, pp. 311–330. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6680-4_16