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Investigating Western social science terminology in China’s late Qing and early Republican Eras

A case study of Yan Fu’s translations

ORCiD logo with link | Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications | University of Oviedo
ORCiD logo with link | East China Normal University
ORCiD logo with link | Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications
Published online: 11 July 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/term.24038.tao
Abstract
This paper examines the crucial role of Western social science terminology (WSST) translation in China during the late Qing dynasty and early Republican periods through a case study of Yan Fu’s translations. Against the backdrop of profound socio-political upheavals of the time, Yan Fu’s work facilitated intellectual discourse and played a crucial role in China’s modernization. By analyzing his translation strategies, terminology choices, and the socio-cultural factors shaping his work, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of WSST translation during the period. Through statistical analysis and a systematic exploration of terminology databases, the research highlights how Yan Fu’s translations mirrored key trends, such as the tension between foreign cultural influences, utilitarian ideals, and a rethinking of traditional Chinese values. Yan Fu’s translations serve as a window into the broader patterns of cross-cultural exchange, contributing to China’s academic development.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review
    • 2.1Current studies on translation of social science terminology
    • 2.2Current studies on Yan Fu’s translated terms
    • 2.3Research gaps of current studies
  • 3.Theoretical framework: Bourdieu’s sociological theory
    • 3.1Fields
    • 3.2Capital
    • 3.3Habitus
    • 3.4Sociological theory and the translation of WSST
  • 4.An Overall Investigation of Yan Fu’s WSST
    • 4.1Research questions
    • 4.2Research method
    • 4.3Data collection
    • 4.4Data Analysis
      • 4.4.1Structural category of WSST
      • 4.4.2Translation strategies of WSST
      • 4.4.3Translation methods of WSST
  • 5.Exploring Yan Fu’s translation of WSST
    • 5.1Examining Yan’s translation of WSST from the perspective of field
    • 5.2Examining Yan’s translation of WSST from the perspective of habitus
      • 5.2.1Preference for domestication
      • 5.2.2Choice between “transliteration” and “free translation”
    • 5.3Examining Yan’s translation of WSST from the perspective of capital
      • 5.3.1Economic capital
      • 5.3.2Cultural capital
      • 5.3.3Social capital
  • 6.Influential factors of overall WSST translation
    • 6.1Influence of fields on the selection of translation texts
      • 6.1.1Political and social fields
      • 6.1.2Educational and cultural fields
    • 6.2Influence of habitual practices on WSST
      • 6.2.1Cultural tradition and Confucian ideology
      • 6.2.2Social hierarchy and authority concepts
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (24)
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