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On the Influence of Powerful and Weak Cultures on Translators from a Historical Point of View--Taking China for Example

Author: ZhuHaiYan
Tutor: XiaPing
School: Shanghai International Studies University
Course: English Language and Literature
Keywords: Postcolonial theory Historical perspective Translation Practice Translation Studies Translator psychological Weak culture Chinese scholars Social background Translation Skills Note
CLC: H059
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2004
Downloads: 287
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Abstract

Post-colonial theory has appeared to be more and more attractive both to foreign scholars and Chinese researchers since the 1990s. Brief introduction is given to the major schools of post-colonial theory and to the gist of their points of view. Taking social and political factors into consideration, post-colonial theory provides us with a new theoretical foundation in cultural and translation studies. Observing the development and innovation in translation practice and theory research through a historical point of view, we can find many influential external factors besides language and literature. It is important to know how they exert their impact on translators’ mentality and consequently on translation activities. Through research in this aspect we can also explain some special translation phenomena in history which cannot be explained purely by linguistic theory, for example, why some translation methods or criteria were brought forward or seemed to be the most prevalent one in certain period of time. The post-colonial theorists, mainly scholars from the Third World, stress on how some western countries represented their ex-colony countries in respects of the nation, the people, their way of life and spiritual achievements. China has never been the center of their discussion. Although Chinese scholars have begun our own post-colonial studies in the 1990s, only in recent years did those scholars in translation field notice the value of postcolonial theory in translation studies.Taking political and social background into consideration, this thesis explains the process of the diachronic mentality changes of Chinese translators since the late 19th century from the angle of post-colonialism and analyzes the consequent adjustments of their skills, opinions and theories. It is described that how Chinese translators employed various translation skills, criteria and theories according to the <WP=5>requirements of different times in the process of introducing western theories and thoughts. In the last part, it is stated again the necessity and the importance of applying post-colonial theory to translation studies. Through post-colonial perspective, we can better understand our translation history and the social background of some historical changes, which will surely benefit our current translation studies. The analysis also provides us with a justice and objective attitude in the discussion on translation theories with western scholars. Our goal at present is to seek for a position where Chinese scholars can speak independently and have conversation with the West equally. This requires both independent theory research and active introduction to China. Thus the research can be regarded as a guide of direction in our translation practice.

On the Influence of Powerful and Weak Cultures on Translators from a Historical Point of View--Taking China for Example

Abstract

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