Chapter 3. Japanese conceptualizations of ‘translation’
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Judy Wakabayashi
Abstract
Chinese characters were a crucial factor shaping translation praxis and attitudes in Japan, providing the foundation for a procedure (performed textually or mentally) known as kanbun kundoku (‘Japanese reading of Chinese text’) that allowed direct understanding of Chinese texts. This largely bypassed ‘conventional’ Translation for a millennium and led to an acceptance of a hybrid written language. The arrival of European languages in the sixteenth century and vernacular renditions of Chinese novels from the seventeenth century introduced a parallel trajectory resembling ‘conventional’ Translation. Translations have had a major impact on Japanese knowledge, literature and the language itself, although it was not until the late nineteenth century that literary translation began to be conceived of as an art. Despite shifts over time, the predominant thread has been a source-oriented approach, and translative language has long constituted an accepted, even desirable, register because of its association with ‘superior’ source cultures.
Abstract
Chinese characters were a crucial factor shaping translation praxis and attitudes in Japan, providing the foundation for a procedure (performed textually or mentally) known as kanbun kundoku (‘Japanese reading of Chinese text’) that allowed direct understanding of Chinese texts. This largely bypassed ‘conventional’ Translation for a millennium and led to an acceptance of a hybrid written language. The arrival of European languages in the sixteenth century and vernacular renditions of Chinese novels from the seventeenth century introduced a parallel trajectory resembling ‘conventional’ Translation. Translations have had a major impact on Japanese knowledge, literature and the language itself, although it was not until the late nineteenth century that literary translation began to be conceived of as an art. Despite shifts over time, the predominant thread has been a source-oriented approach, and translative language has long constituted an accepted, even desirable, register because of its association with ‘superior’ source cultures.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface 1
- Chapter 1. Translating in the Pacific 13
- Chapter 2. Recent tradition in Australia 39
- Chapter 3. Japanese conceptualizations of ‘translation’ 55
- Chapter 4. Contemporary views of translation in China 81
- Chapter 5. From plagiarism to incense sticks 105
- Chapter 6. More or less “translation” 125
- Chapter 7. The Persian tradition 149
- Chapter 8. The notion of translation in the Arab world 169
- Chapter 9. Traditions of translation in Hebrew culture 193
- Chapter 10. Altaic tradition 215
- Chapter 11. Translation tradition throughout South African history 243
- Chapter 12. Translation traditions in Angola 271
- Chapter 13. The culture(s) of translation in Russia 287
- Chapter 14. The concept of translation in Slavic cultures 309
- Chapter 15. The Greek-speaking tradition 323
- Chapter 16. Latin/Romance tradition 341
- Chapter 17. Germanic tradition 355
- Chapter 18. Hispanic South America 375
- Chapter 19. The history of translation in Brazil through the centuries 395
- Chapter 20. Translation in Central America and Mexico 419
- Chapter 21. Translation and North America 443
- Postface 465
- Bio-notes 471
- Index of languages, people, toponyms 481
- Name index 485
- Subject index 491
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface 1
- Chapter 1. Translating in the Pacific 13
- Chapter 2. Recent tradition in Australia 39
- Chapter 3. Japanese conceptualizations of ‘translation’ 55
- Chapter 4. Contemporary views of translation in China 81
- Chapter 5. From plagiarism to incense sticks 105
- Chapter 6. More or less “translation” 125
- Chapter 7. The Persian tradition 149
- Chapter 8. The notion of translation in the Arab world 169
- Chapter 9. Traditions of translation in Hebrew culture 193
- Chapter 10. Altaic tradition 215
- Chapter 11. Translation tradition throughout South African history 243
- Chapter 12. Translation traditions in Angola 271
- Chapter 13. The culture(s) of translation in Russia 287
- Chapter 14. The concept of translation in Slavic cultures 309
- Chapter 15. The Greek-speaking tradition 323
- Chapter 16. Latin/Romance tradition 341
- Chapter 17. Germanic tradition 355
- Chapter 18. Hispanic South America 375
- Chapter 19. The history of translation in Brazil through the centuries 395
- Chapter 20. Translation in Central America and Mexico 419
- Chapter 21. Translation and North America 443
- Postface 465
- Bio-notes 471
- Index of languages, people, toponyms 481
- Name index 485
- Subject index 491
