A Tentative Inquiry into Translation Policies in China Since 1919
This dissertation endeavors to discuss the interaction between translating activity and translation policy, especially in the context of China since 1919. The focus of the research will be on the regulating aspects of translation policy and on the political agents underlying translation decisions. By investigating to what extent policies fulfill certain functions and, above all, what kind of functions they have during the translating process, the research intends to explore some new subjects by expanding pure technical level of translation studies to other fields such as sociology, politics and literature.Apart from Introduction and Conclusion, the present dissertation consists of five chapters.Introduction, in the first place, mainly provides the research background, the research methodology, a literature review of previous research on translation policy, as well as a preview of the whole paper. One of the most important parts in this chapter is the author\'s attempt to define "translation policy" in the context of translation studies.Chapter One tries to build up a theoretical framework to support research on translation policy, including rationals of Habermas\'s communicative theory in a social-cultural context as well as new directions in translation studies that are policy-relevant, such as Polysystem Theory, Descriptive Translation Studies, Rewriting Theory, and Skopos Theory. The latter part of Chapter One endeavors to relocate translation policy in the discipline of Translation Studies by analyzing the different versions of the "map" of translation studies initially proposed by James S. Holmes in 1972. Meanwhile, the author ventures to make some personal suggestions upon possible future research scope of translation policy, dividing it into two major branches, namely, General and Specific.Chapter Two and Chapter Three are engaged in summarizing some general laws concerning translation policy on the basis of an in-depth exploration into translation policies of China since 1919, which is made in a case study format. Categorizing Chinese history of translation since 1919 into two types, namely, cultural transition period and cultural stabilized period, these two chapters try to refer to Habermas\'s communicative action/rationality theory in this research. It is worth noting that there is less colonization of the lifeworld by the system in cultural transition periods which enables agents including the translator enjoy more freedom during the translating process than in cultural stabalized periods. Consequently, restrictions are abandoned in many ways and more foreign ideas and works could be introduced with less domestic resistance so as to stimulate eulutral and social progress and development. In comparison, when social system in a state is stable and secure, which means it colonizes the lifeworld in a more comprehensive way, the translator as well as other agents in translating process could enjoy less individual freedom and sometimes has to abandon his/her own principle to compromise to restraints from the system proper. Being a purposeful activity, translation has always been subject to policies determined by political factors and environment. Compared with the strong constraints imposed by policy, the degree to which the translator could manipulate the source text is rather limited.Chapter Four endeavors to illustrate that in the translating process, translating institutions play a much more important and decisive role than the translator in the formulation and implementation of translation policy. Acting as a liaison between the government and the translator, translating institutions take part in carrying out specific policies and help to avoid violation of certain regulations set by the government. Meanwhile, they could also contribute advice or suggestion to the authority in policy making and influence the formation of translation policies.Chapter Five deals with some academic suggestions upon future policy-making in China aimed at stimulating a lasting prosperity of translating activities. It is suggested that there should be two types of forward-looking translation policies in China, namely, macro-policy and micro-policy. The former is mainly concerned with translation infrastructure construction, for example, standardization of terminology translation, normalization of translation market, and academic research on translation studies. The latter, on the other hand, focuses more on specific issues concerned with translation, such as previleges granted to certain translation projects, which calls for the establishment of a Translation Academy.In Conclusion, a brief review and summary of the whole dissertation is made, followed by some theoretical reflections as well as possibilities for future research.