A Study On Negel Wiseman’s TCM Translation Theory From The Perspective Of Polysystem Theory

Nigel Wiseman, a renowned British translator of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has published extensive works in English or in English-Chinese version, including many articles on the English translation of the TCM theory and practice on peer-reviewed journals, which has laid the foundation for the formation of his translation theory concerning TCM translation. Since the publication of his inaugural monograph on Chinese medicine in the English language, Wiseman has exerted widespread influence and sparked heated debates among scholars of TCM translation in China and the world at large.Gifted in western culture and Chinese culture, Wiseman is endowed with dual cultural identity, ethnic emotion, thinking pattern and social value which has been further enhanced by his professional education experience, rich life experience, years of research work and cross-cultural communication. He is most remarkable for the creation of the source-oriented translation method while he also insisted on preserving the original ideas of traditional Chinese medicine concepts and putting forward systematic translation principle to maintain complete TCM concepts.Even-Zohar, an Israeli scholar of translation studies, has put forth the Polysystem Theory on the basis of the study of translation text by highlighting the role of the translator and the recipient and incorporating multicultural and historical factors, which has revolutionized translation studies from a different perspective. Chinese medicine is a precious part of the ancient Chinese traditional culture. Wiseman has devoted himself to the translation of TCM to make the English translation of TCM comprehensible to the Westerners, which is manifested by his sincere respect and recognition towards TCM and the Chinese culture. His dual cultural identity has also inclined him to take into consideration the Chinese cultural factors in the course of his translation of TCM, which is supported by his source-oriented translation strategy.Based on Zohar’s Polysystem Theory, this thesis is intended to study Nigel Wiseman’s TCM translation thoughts and analyze his translation principles and source-oriented translation methods. It goes on to discuss Wiseman’s key cultural factors and historical background affecting the process of translation before making a summary and evaluation on his translation thoughts with a view to providing valuable reference for further research in this field.