Reflections On Translation Criticism

The present translation criticisms are not quite satisfactory. Many of critics are satisfied themselves with text comparison. Words and sentences are studied to find out the best equivalence to the original work. Then judgements about the quality of a translation are made on the basis of the degree of equivalence. However, as whether equivalent or not is judged to the preference of the critic. such an assessment is not so just or objective as the critic has expected to be. No wonder it is often regarded either as an appraisal or a denouncement. Disputations thus begin. Many scholars are unsatisfied with this kind of translation criticism. Ne~v critics are explored. Xu Jun, a professor at Nanjing University; is a diligent explorer. He tries to study translation in a larger domain than text comparison. He and his colleagues value responses of readers to a translation very much. They did a research in 1995. Sample survey was carried Out for readers?responses to different translations of Rouge et Noir. A recommendation list of translations was made according to these responses. Their ~vay of study is worthy of commendation. Few scholars are doing researches in this way. Too many scholars are contented with speculative study. It is out of question that their methodology is valuable. An analysis will be given to it. Merits as well as defects in the research will be pointed out. In the last chapter of this paper, some ideas on translation criticism will be proposed. To this writer, a formal, descriptive and positive critic needs recommendation. Translations and translators will be examined against a larger background. the interactions of cultures. As translations and translators are unavoidable media of these interactions, their function to the interaction will be on the focus. Social and cultural factors affecting translators, readers and commentators need attention. The writer believes that together with the present way of criticisms this New Criticism might be beneficial to the cause of translation.