A Theoretical Explorarion Of Systemic Method In Descriptive Translation Studies

Postconstructivism and so-call cultural turn contribute to the presence of descriptive translation studies as a essential branch in Holmes's blueprint of translotology when translation studies based on the linguistics falls into a decline due to its extensive stress on the static, microcosmic and prescriptive research methods. Descriptive translation studies regard empiricism as methodological foundation and apply itself to multidimensional exploration of political, cultural and ideological factors which affect translation activities through inductive analysis and case studies.As one of the two important empirical research methods in present translation studies, the identification of status, methodological value and operational procedures has been increasingly strengthened among the scholars in this field. While there is no denying that their opinions fall apart towards some microcosmic problems such as the standards and processes for data collection and analysis. Since empiricism lays much stress on the importance of objectively collected data in sustainment of certain perspectives as well as description of certain laws about translation activities, solutions of problems related with samples disposal do influence the persuasiveness of research. In descriptive translation studies, it is necessary to design a systemically-constructed data collection apparatus to reveal features of translated text as comprehensively as possible and different categories of data should bear correlativity and elicitationality with each other.Although it is a theoretical design, Crisafulli's eclectic methodology of translation description, which strives at a combination of integration of empirical-description (qualitative) and critical-interpretation (quantitative) methods, exhibit a reference value for advancing a systemic method in descriptive translation studies because of data category system as kernel point in its theory. Lambert and van Gorp's systemic scheme points out the"preliminary data→macro-level data→micro-1evel data→systemic context"sequence in translation description; Lefevere's manipulation theory elucidates poetics, patronage and ideology as main factors influencing the production and reception of a translated text. The present research aims at a theoretical integration of these theories through deductive analysis and inductive reasoning so as to put forward a feasible research scheme. Firstly, through analyzing the pros and cons of eclectic methodology and systemic scheme, the necessarity and feasibility of integration of this two theories are investigated: eclectic methodology has its advantage of comprehensive data category system, but leaves some important problems, related with the practical application of this system in concrete description, untouched; Lambert and van Gorp's systemic scheme highlights instrumentality while his definition of what three kind of data mean is too general, and this deficiency can be made up by Crisafulli's data category system; and Lefevere's manipulation theory can provide explanation perspectives for"analysis in systemic context". Secondly, a tentative research scheme is put forward after the key adjustment of recategorizing Crisafulli's data category system in line with the sequence of""preliminary data→macro-level data→micro-1evel data", then reasons of systematization as the most distinctive features of this tentative research scheme was outlined. Last but not the least, the effectiveness of this tentative research scheme is validated through the comparative study of tow Chinese versions of The Catcher in the Rye as a model in action.Although the scheme proposed in present research is a theoretically and practically feasible solution to deal with problems existing in data collection and analysis, this attempt can only be seen as nothing but some kind of orientational explorations which lack of deepen considerations on operational details. To become a universal applicable and compatible methodology, it deserves further remedy and perfection through interaction between theoretical development and practical application in the future.