Society And Translation: Studies On Translated Text From The Late Qing Dynasty To The May-fourth Period Beyond Language

In western translation studies, there have been three paradigms, ie. philological paradigm, linguistic paradigm and paradigm of cultural studies. In recent years, while the translation studies under "cultural turn" is still going on, the "social turn of translation studies" has happened. Throughout the development history of translation studies, the former two paradigms of translation studies focus on the linguistic level in translation process, while the latter two put their emphasis on the cultural and social elements which affect and restrain translation process. Translation studies under whichever paradigm, no matter internal language or external language, all pay attention to the positive control effect that different elements exert on the language organization and rules application during the translation process, which is a study of "studying translation process".It should be pointed out that translated text is different from translation process in that translated text is static existence, while translation process is dynamic extension. As the final product of translation process, translated text is not only the product of the complicated language activity, it is also the outcome of conflicting and mingling between Chinese and foreign cultures, and the basis for reflecting complex social phenomena. As the product of the complicated language activity, translated text embodies the correct comprehensive ability, excellent language foundation and experienced translation skills. As the outcome of conflicting and mingling between Chinese and foreign cultures, the new thought and new idea from foreign lands contained in translated text inspire and stimulate numerous ambitious youth to fight for their ideal. As the basis for reflecting complex social phenomena, the large number of translated texts can surpass ordinary texts to reflect the more obvious time brand and social features more correctly, especially in the special period when society experiences big changes and significant turmoil. Besides, the social imprints in "translated text" will not change with time flies. So, it is totally reasonable to use the prominent and actually already fixed social imprints in translated text to discuss "translated text and society". This kind of reverse derivation study is the study of "using translated text to study".This paper tries to build a dynamic framework with multiple levels of “synchronic and diachronic study crossed, internal language and external language elements interacting",and use "specific translated text in special period" to demonstrate the social sources of translated text's language expression, the social influences of translated text's ideological trend and social evolution of translated text's translation norm. This paper hopes to re-examine the literary translated texts from the Late Qing Dynasty to the May-fourth period through "beyond language",to escape the study set of "discussing when and where, what elements exert what influences on translation process" through“surpassing studying translation process to using translated text to study",to derive the close relationship between "society and translation" through analyzing and inducing the social property of structure, content and norm of translated text, and eventually tries to disclose that "translated text can exert positive promoting influences on society".On the basis of analyzing a large number of translated text materials, this thesis finds that there are not only "close relationship",but also "mutual relation" between translated text and society: on the one hand, society and cultural elements exert forward influences and restrictions; on the other hand, translated text can also exert reverse guiding and promoting influences on society. Moreover, the "social function" of translated text can be upgraded to "social promoting function". Chapter four can clearly show the operation track of 'translated text's social promoting function". It is for sure that in the period when society is turbulent and has great changes, a single spark can start a prairie fire. Any appealing thought can bring about social changes and trigger enormous promoting power,so as to give impetus to great social reforms. This is the "social promoting function" that"translated text" has in "special period".The research thought and framework have theoretical value in that they can help to advance translated text study and promote the establishment of translation theory. To use"specific text in special period",which is the translated text in the period from the late Qing Dynasty to the May-fourth when language had drastic changes and social environment were so complicated,to study "society and translation" can not only supplement and improve the translated text study from the social perspective, but also provide valuable lessons to help establish the subject of socio-translation studies (or sociology of translation).