Publications

Publication details [#54628]

Li, Li (李力). 2022. 知识翻译中的译者选择——以caus-词汇的地方性生成与世界化再传播为例 [Translator’s Selections in Knowledge Translation — Exemplified by the Local Generation and Global Circulation of Caus-words]. Journal of Foreign Languages (外国语) 45 (5) : 110–119. URL

Abstract

Causality has been a hot topic in scientific research in the era of data science in the 21st century. From the perspective of knowledge translation, the English caus-words are examined to find out how they were locally generated in Western Europe in the 13-18th centuries before being translated and recirculated in East Asia in the 19-20th century. Translation is found to be involved in the local generation of both “yinguo**” and caus-words. Though widely used since 1906, “yinguo”, the Chinese equivalent of the caus-words, remains different from caus-words in terms of construal dimensions, pragmatic flexibility, and sheer number. The ancient Mohist concept of “minggu”, literally meaning “to shed light on the causes” and more similar to caus-words, offers an alternative translation. Finally, the author summarizes the features of concept translation process: trial and error, and non-reversibility, as well as two criteria for translator’s selection of translations (similar construal levels and acceptability) with the ultimate goal of facilitating future knowledge production and conceptual innovation.
Source : Based on abstract in journal

摘要

因果关系是21世纪大数据时代科学研究的新热点。本文从知识翻译的视角,以英语caus-词汇为线索,描写其13-18世纪在西欧的地方性生成、19-20世纪在东亚再加工、传播的过程和路径,发现东、西方相关知识概念的生成和传播都有翻译介入。caus-词汇的译文"因果**"自20世纪初开始传播,但在识解维度、语用灵活度上与英文存在差异,而墨家的"明故"与"caus-"相似,可为译者提供新的选项。最后本文尝试总结概念翻译过程的矛盾特点:不可逆转和试错;提出译者选择的标准:识解维度一致、利于再传播;以及知识翻译的终极目标:成为未来知识增长、概念创新的支撑点。