The Cultural Turn In Translation Studies And Its Impact In China

The cultural turn in translation studies, following the cultural turn of the general international academic studies in arts and social sciences, has influenced and promoted China's translation studies since 1990s and resulted in great progress in the translation research in the country. At the same time, it also challenges China's translation studies and Chinese translators. How to understand the cultural turn in translation studies? Does it stand for the future of translation studies? How should theorists and practitioners deal with the relationship between cultural school and linguistic school of translation studies and the relationship between traditional Chinese translation theory and the imported western translation theories. The answers to these questions depend on insightful understanding of cultural turn and its underlying causes. This dissertation aims to find the answers to the questions by exploring the causes of cultural turn, and at the same time, to look for the inspiration for the development of Chinese translation studies.The dissertation can be divided into four parts:Chapter one gives a general view of the cultural turn in translation studies in the West and China and enumerates the questions which Chinese translators and translation theorists face in their work and research. Through an insightful survey of the causes of cultural turn the author hopes that the answers to the questions can be found, at least partly, and the tentative solutions be proposed for future translation studies.Chapter two and chapter three are the main body of the dissertation. Itprobes the philosophical, methodological and historical bases to find out the immediate causes and motivation of the cultural turn in translation studies.On the basis of chapter two, chapter three focuses on what the cultural turn in translation studies has brought to Chinese translation studies.1. The cultural turn in translation studies is the historical necessity2. The relationship between the cultural oriented research and linguistic oriented research should be co-developing and mutual beneficial and their integration constitutes the complete whole of translation studies. At the same time, the integration of the two approaches does not necessarily mean that the two enjoy the equally simultaneous development. The focus of translation studies will vary in different periods.3. The importance of the discipline's conscience and independence4. The spirits of reflection and innovationAlthough great achievement has been realized in the field of translation studies in China, many scholars just borrow the western theories and attempt to apply them to Chinese translation research without theoretical innovation. The author points out that the reflective spirit should be kept in the studies of both traditional Chinese translation theory and the imported western translation theory. The innovative integration of the two is not only possible but necessary.5. The shift in methodologyWith the help of cultural turn, the horizon of Chinese translators should be broadened and the research methods should be pluralized.6. Under the trend of globalization, it is necessary to change the imbalance of in- and out-translations, and strengthen the translation from Chinese to foreign languages.Chapter four is the conclusion.