Autonomy And Heteronomy Of Translation: From A System Theory Perspective

As worldview, science of thinking, and research methodology, system and system theory have been widely used to reduce the complex phenomenon in natural and social sciences, especially in complexity research and inter-disciplinary studies. The general system theory proposed by Bertalanffy explores the common feature of all kinds of systems. Based on the general system theory and Russian Formalism, Zohar proposed a polysystem theory to explain literature, translation and culture phenomena. The sociologist Luhmann proposed a social system theory on the basis of biological concept of autopoiesis and examined various disciplines of social sciences. This dissertation is an attempt to study translation by means of system theory.One important feature of system is autonomy and heteronomy. From a system theory perspective, translation is indeed a simultaneously autonomous and heteronomous system. Many scholars have mentioned the autonomy of translation but given no detailed explanation. They viewed autonomy of translation as the concept of independence of the discipline. Hermans viewed autonomy of translation as the autopoiesis of the translation system based on the communication and readers' expectation structure, terms borrowed from Luhmann's social systemtheory. He held that heteronomy of translation means translation serves the needs of other systems not for its own. This dissertation holds that this is an oversimplified study of translation system, which fails to touch the true nature of translation system. The dissertation applies system theory to study the autonomy and heteronomy of translation. It argues that the internal structures of translation system are the autonomy of translation that governs the whole process of translation production. At the same time, translation system in the process of cultural production is an open one that interacts constantly with the other social systems and is manipulated by the environment. The interaction with and manipulation by the environment of translation system is the heteronomy of translation. The sound operation of translation system is the result of the balance between autonomy and heteronomy of translation.The dissertation is divided into five chapters. Chapter one discusses the concept of system and system theory. The author gives a brief introduction of the definition of system, common elements of system, classification and function of system. Then the author continues to explore generally the development of system theory, including general system theory, polysystem theory, and social system theory.Chapter two analyses the autonomy and heteronomy of system from system perspective. Autopoiesis in Luhmann's social system theory is used to explore the autonomy of social systems, including language and literature. The heteronomy of language, literature and system is explained from the historical development of these fields. These notions can be applied to the study of translation.Chapter three discusses translation system. Translation has been viewed as completely derivative phenomenon and semi-independent phenomenon parasited in linguistics before it becomes an independent phenomenon. In the pre-linguisticperiod, translation is regarded as a derivative phenomenon. Translation theory is the by-product of translation practice. Translation theory exists indeed in the form of paratext. To some extent, translation is completely heteronomous.Linguistic turn makes translation an initially independent phenomenon. The development of linguistics has provided translation research with an operational instrument. Translation begins to have its own object of study, explore its own rules and to become an independent discipline. The focus of linguistic approach to translation research is on equivalence. However, the concept of equivalence has been challenged by literary-art approach to translation, deconstructionists, feminists and readers' response theorists. In the linguistic turn, translation tends to be autonomous.The foundation of modern translation studies has made translation a completely independent phenomenon. Holmes outlined the map of translation studies, the mark of the establishment of the discipline. The formation of translation approaches or schools is the powerful evidence for independent translation phenomenon. Hermans summarized the features of translation studies and proposed the notion of translation as a social system. Translation finally obtained its autonomy.The formation of translation system is the result of cultural turn and translation turn. Cultural turn has made a fundamental change in translation studies. It coincides with the booming of cultural studies. Translation as one of the links in cultural production has been greatly influenced by the globalization of cultural production and consumption. Translation is no longer a completely autonomous system. It is governed and manipulated by various constraints. Therefore, Translation system becomes a heteronomous system. In order to extend the influence of translation studies, scholars have proposed translation turn in thesocial science.Chapter four discusses the autonomy and heteronomy of translation. Translation in the pre-linguistic period is completely heteronomous. Linguistic turn gives translation its relative autonomy. The absolute autonomy of translation occurs after the establishment of translation studies. Cultural turn leads translation on to the co-existence of autonomy and heteronomy. After discussed with professor Hermans, the present dissertation re-interprets translation system from system perspective. The author puts forward the concept of absolute autonomy and relative autonomy of translation to amend Hermans' oversimplification of the autonomy and heteronomy of translation. The heteronomy of translation is most obvious in cultural production. It occurs in the pre-translation consideration, translation process, translation product, distribution and consumption of translation and translation institution.Chapter five is the conclusion part. Translation as a complex system is autonomous and heteronomous. All elements or systems within the translation system formulate a three-dimensional grid of relations. Translation studies researchers could integrate any elements within the system with the grid to form a research platform. The wider vision of translation studies could be obtained by accumulating numerous such research platforms.