Research On English Translation Of Qi And Blood Pathogenesis Terminology

Purposes:This study selected the terminology of qi and blood pathogenesis from six traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)terminology dictionaries,and compared and analyzed the English translation methods of the terms under the guidance of formal equivalence theory and terminological normalization principles.It is hoped that the research itself along with the suggested English versions of the terms could shed light on the study of TCM terminology translation,provide some references for the further study in this area,offer some references for the compilation of TCM English translation dictionaries and TCM translation teaching materials,and enrich the normalization of TCM terminology translation.Methods:This study selected qi and blood pathogenesis terms from the pathogenesis part of the Chinese Medicine Terminology as research objects,classified the terms by means of their lexical structures.At the same time,the corresponding translations of qi and blood pathogenesis terms were obtained from the six authoritative and representative Chinese medicine terms international standards/dictionaries.Under the guidance of formal equivalence theory and Zhu Jianping’s TCM terms normalization principles,this study clarified the connotation,lexical structures and semantic logic relations of the terms.Based on which,this study also compared and analyzed the English translation characteristics of the six versions,summarized their translation methods,discussed the English translation strategies of TCM teminology,and provided the suggested translations.Results:1)Classification of lexical structure of qi and blood pathogenesis terms:There are 77 terms of qi and blood pathogenesis terms in the pathogenesis part of Chinese Medicine Terminology:.According to their Chinese lexical structures,the terms are classified and their lexical structures and numbers of the terms are substantive terms(28),predicative terms(41),and others(8).Among which,the 41 predicative terms are of the highest number.The substantive terms are further divided into substantive(attributive-headword)structure terms(23)and substantive combined structure terms(5);while the predicative terms are further divided into predicative subject-verb structure(2.3),predicative subject-verb-object structure(1 5)and predicative serial verb structure(3)respectively.2)Contrastive analysis of English translation of qi and blood pathogenesis terms:The findings,based on the comparative analysis of the six dictionaries,indicate the following main problems in the English translation of qi and bl’ood’pathogenesis terms.First,the actual connotation of the terms is not fully explored and there are mistranslations due to misunderstanding of their original meanings.Secondly,the synonyms of the terms,or the terms of the same or upper and lower levels are not systematically translated,leading to different degrees of confusion and mistakes in the English translation.Thirdly,the connotation and internal logical relationship of the terms are translated literally causing mistranslation.Lastly,some versions rely largely on transliteration resulting in poor readability of the translation.3)Characteristics of English translation in different versions of the terms of qi and blood pathogenesis:Professor Li Zhaoguo,Fang Tingyu and Xie Zhufan are domestically influential experts in Chinese medicine translation,and professor Nigel Wiseman is one of the most representative foreign experts in Chinese medicine translation.Compared with the domestic scholars,the translation concepts advocated by Wiseman have distinct characteristics.Li Zhaoguo’s translation is rich and comprehensive,with accurate precisions.Most of his translations have used the method of borrowing terms from biology medicine,therefore,there are many Latin roots and affixes applied to facilitate foreign readers to understand the TCM concepts.The translation versions of Fang Tingyu and Xie Zhufan’s manifest certain similarities in terms of adapting free translation and amplification methods in translation to facilitate foreign readers’ understanding of the original content.Wiseman’s version is oriented by the source language,attaching importance to the translation of Chinese medicine philosophy and culture,emphasizing back translation in principle,applying word-for-word translation so that literal translation and transliteration are advocated rather than free translation.WHO International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific Region by World Health Organization(WHO)and International Standard Chinese-English Basic Nomenclature of Chinese Medicine by World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies(WFCMS)are the two major international standards for TCM terminology jointly launched by experts and scholars home and abroad.The two international standards incorporate the findings of current research and offer guidance and innovation.Conclusions:For the English translation of TCM terminology,it is necessary to translate them accurately on the basis of accurate understanding of the connotation of the terms Meanwhile,it is also a must to analyze the lexical structures of the terms.At the same time,the implied semantic logical relations should be translated accurately with certain logical connectivesThis paper started with the lexical structures of the terms,comprehensively discussed the English translation of qi and blood pathogenesis terms,and recommended-the translation patterns and methods for each structure of the terms as follows:The substantive attributive+headword structure terms are recommended to be translated as the structure of attributive+headword or headword+of/in+attributive.For example,“心肺气虚”is recommended to be translated into lung-heart qi deficiency,“血分热毒”is recommended to be translated into heat toxin in blood phaseThe substantive combined structure terms are recommended to be translated as the structure of N and N or N due to N according to the internal logic relations.For example,“津枯血燥”is recommended to be translated into liquid desiccation and blood dryness,“胆虚气怯”is recommended to be translated into qi timidity due to gallbladder deficiency.The predicative structure terms includes subject-verb structure,subject-verb-object structure and serial verb structure terms.The focus of the translation is on the translation of predicate verbs,which should be translated word by word in order to maintain the correspondence,systematicness and back translation of the verbsFor the translation of their lexical structures,the predicative subject-verb structure terms are recommended to be translated as the structure of N(subject)+Ving/N(object)or Ving/N(object)+of/in+N(subject).For example,“血瘀”is recommended to be translated into blood stasis,“脾气下陷”is recommended to be translated into sinking of spleen qi.The predicative subject-verb-object structure terms are recommende’d to be translated as the structure of S+Ving+O.For example,“肝气犯脾”is recommended to be translated into liver qi invading spleen.The predicative serial verb structure terms are recommended to be translated as the structure of N+following+N+Ving/N.For example,“血随气你”is recommended to be translated into blood following qi counterflow.Other types of qi and blood pathogenesis terms are recommended to be translated as the structure of B due to A.For example,“悲则气消”is recommended to be translated into qi disperse due to grief.In addition,under the guidance of the principles and strategies for TCM terminology translation,this study has compared and analyzed the translation of the 77 pathogenesis terms,and believes that both the equivalence and systematic principles should be the prior ones,and foreinization should be the main translation strategy for the current and future TCM terminology translation.Innovations:1)The research object of English translation of TCM terms has been expanded.This study takes qi and blood pathogenesis terms as research objects,which has further enriched the content of TCM terminology translation to some extent.2)This study has further explored the guidance of Eugene Nida’s formal equivalence translation theory and the nominalization principles on TCM terminology English translation.3)This study has put forward some new ideas:both the equivalence and systematic principles should be the prior ones for TCM terminology translation.and foreinization should be the main translation strategy for the current and future TCM terminology translation.Limitations:The selection of research subjects:There’s no clear definition about qi and blood pathogenesis term,and the literariness and ambiguity of Chinese medicine terms,both make the classification of the terms in this study more difficult.Althought this study has taken Chinese Medicine Terminology,a.comparatively more systematic and rigorous standard of TCM terms,as the source of the qi and blood pathogenesis terms based on the comparation of a few Chinese medicine dictionaries and textbooks,the selection of the terms in this study might still be not completed.