‘To translate’ means ‘to exchange’?
A new interpretation of the earliest Chinese attempts to define translation (‘fanyi’)
Published online: 23 March 2006
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.17.1.03che
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.17.1.03che
This paper analyzes several terms used in ancient China to refer to the activity/activities now called ‘fanyi’ in Chinese, or ‘translation’ in English. By tracing the pattern behind the semantic and ideological jogging amongst these terms, the paper offers a new interpretation of the earliest Chinese attempts to define translation (‘fanyi’). The purpose is to highlight the constructed nature of the prevailing notion of ‘fanyi’ and unsettle its established meaning, the better to provoke theoretical discussions on and about ‘fanyi’. The final purpose is to provide a response to the recent call for a non-Eurocentric, international Translation Studies by advocating for a concerted effort to study the conceptualisations of ‘translation’ as they evolved in different cultures, with the view to eventually developing a general theory of translation that truly has general relevance.
Résumé
Cet article analyse plusieurs termes utilisés en Chine ancienne pour désigner l’activité aujourd’hui appelée “fanyi” en chinois (“traduction” en français). En reconstituant le cheminement sémantique et idéologique entre ces termes, il offre une nouvelle interprétation des premières tentatives chinoises pour définir la traduction (“fanyi”). Il s’agit plus précisément de montrer le caractère construit de cette notion, et de mettre en cause sa signification convenue, afin de susciter une discussion théorique sur le concept de “fanyi”. Le dernier propos de cette contribution consiste à répondre à l’appel récent d’études de traduction non eurocentristes, moyennant un plaidoyer pour une étude concertée des conceptualisations de la “traduction”, telles qu’elles se manifestent dans différentes cultures, avec en perspective une théorie générale de la traduction douée d’une portée vraiment générale.
Article outline
- Looking back at history
- Titles of government posts or attempts at definition? Or both?
- A farfetched interpretation?
- From the past to the present: Theoretical reflections on Translation Studies in China
- From the present to the future: International Translation Studies
- Notes
- Glossary of Chinese names and titles
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