中国翻译史(英文版_详细).docVIP

Brief Introduction of the Chinese Translation History Chinese translation theory was born out of contact with vassal states during the Zhou Dynasty. It developed through translations of Buddhist scripture into Chinese. It is a response to the universals of the experience of translation and to the specifics of the experience of translating from specific source languages into Chinese. It also developed in the context of Chinese literary and intellectual tradition. The modern Standard Mandarin word fanyi 翻譯 translate; translation compounds fan turn over; cross over; translate and yi translate; interpret. Some related synonyms are tongyi 通譯 interpret; translate, chuanyi 傳譯 interpret; translate, and zhuanyi 轉譯 translate; retranslate. The Chinese classics contain various words meaning interpreter; translator, for instance, sheren 舌人 (lit. tongue person) and fanshe 反舌 (lit. return tongue). The Classic of Rites records four regional words: ji 寄 send; entrust; rely on for Dongyi 東夷 Eastern Yi-barbarians, xiang 象 be like; resemble; image for Nanman 南蠻 Southern Man-barbarians, didi 狄鞮 Di-barbarian boots for Xirong 西戎 Western Rong-barbarians, and yi 譯 translate; interpret for Beidi 北狄 Northern Di-barbarians. In those five regions, the languages of the people were not mutually intelligible, and their likings and desires were different. To make what was in their minds apprehended, and to communicate their likings and desires, (there were officers), — in the east, called transmitters; in the south, representationists; in the west, T?-t?s; and in the north, interpreters. (王制 The Royal Regulations, tr. James Legge 1885 vol. 27, pp. 229-230) A Western Han work attributes a dialogue about translation to Confucius. Confucius advises a ruler who wishes to learn foreign languages not to bother. Confucius tells the ruler to focus on governance and let the translators handle translation. The earliest bit of translation theory may be the phrase names should follow their bearers, while thing