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Chapter 4. Contemporary views of translation in China

  • Leo Tak-hung Chan
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A World Atlas of Translation
This chapter is in the book A World Atlas of Translation

Abstract

After a brief summary of the classical theories, this report discusses contemporary notions of translation in China with reference to their international and national dimensions. The first section deals with recent conceptualizations that have merged in response to China’s rise as an economic and political power; the concern for promoting outward translations of the Chinese classics in recent years underlines the attempt to “send out” Chinese culture. Section two notes how, in response to the forces of globalization, translation has also been increasingly thought of as language service, the provision of which will allow China to take up a greater share of the worldwide translation market. The final section surveys how translation “manages” the dialectical relationship between the majority language (Chinese) and the minority languages of non-Han communities in the country. Three keywords sum up the turn-of-the-century Chinese thinking on translation: waishu (exportation), canye (industry) and hexie (harmony).

Abstract

After a brief summary of the classical theories, this report discusses contemporary notions of translation in China with reference to their international and national dimensions. The first section deals with recent conceptualizations that have merged in response to China’s rise as an economic and political power; the concern for promoting outward translations of the Chinese classics in recent years underlines the attempt to “send out” Chinese culture. Section two notes how, in response to the forces of globalization, translation has also been increasingly thought of as language service, the provision of which will allow China to take up a greater share of the worldwide translation market. The final section surveys how translation “manages” the dialectical relationship between the majority language (Chinese) and the minority languages of non-Han communities in the country. Three keywords sum up the turn-of-the-century Chinese thinking on translation: waishu (exportation), canye (industry) and hexie (harmony).

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface 1
  4. Chapter 1. Translating in the Pacific 13
  5. Chapter 2. Recent tradition in Australia 39
  6. Chapter 3. Japanese conceptualizations of ‘translation’ 55
  7. Chapter 4. Contemporary views of translation in China 81
  8. Chapter 5. From plagiarism to incense sticks 105
  9. Chapter 6. More or less “translation” 125
  10. Chapter 7. The Persian tradition 149
  11. Chapter 8. The notion of translation in the Arab world 169
  12. Chapter 9. Traditions of translation in Hebrew culture 193
  13. Chapter 10. Altaic tradition 215
  14. Chapter 11. Translation tradition throughout South African history 243
  15. Chapter 12. Translation traditions in Angola 271
  16. Chapter 13. The culture(s) of translation in Russia 287
  17. Chapter 14. The concept of translation in Slavic cultures 309
  18. Chapter 15. The Greek-speaking tradition 323
  19. Chapter 16. Latin/Romance tradition 341
  20. Chapter 17. Germanic tradition 355
  21. Chapter 18. Hispanic South America 375
  22. Chapter 19. The history of translation in Brazil through the centuries 395
  23. Chapter 20. Translation in Central America and Mexico 419
  24. Chapter 21. Translation and North America 443
  25. Postface 465
  26. Bio-notes 471
  27. Index of languages, people, toponyms 481
  28. Name index 485
  29. Subject index 491
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.145.04cha

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface 1
  4. Chapter 1. Translating in the Pacific 13
  5. Chapter 2. Recent tradition in Australia 39
  6. Chapter 3. Japanese conceptualizations of ‘translation’ 55
  7. Chapter 4. Contemporary views of translation in China 81
  8. Chapter 5. From plagiarism to incense sticks 105
  9. Chapter 6. More or less “translation” 125
  10. Chapter 7. The Persian tradition 149
  11. Chapter 8. The notion of translation in the Arab world 169
  12. Chapter 9. Traditions of translation in Hebrew culture 193
  13. Chapter 10. Altaic tradition 215
  14. Chapter 11. Translation tradition throughout South African history 243
  15. Chapter 12. Translation traditions in Angola 271
  16. Chapter 13. The culture(s) of translation in Russia 287
  17. Chapter 14. The concept of translation in Slavic cultures 309
  18. Chapter 15. The Greek-speaking tradition 323
  19. Chapter 16. Latin/Romance tradition 341
  20. Chapter 17. Germanic tradition 355
  21. Chapter 18. Hispanic South America 375
  22. Chapter 19. The history of translation in Brazil through the centuries 395
  23. Chapter 20. Translation in Central America and Mexico 419
  24. Chapter 21. Translation and North America 443
  25. Postface 465
  26. Bio-notes 471
  27. Index of languages, people, toponyms 481
  28. Name index 485
  29. Subject index 491
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