Enlightenment Of Interpretative Anthropology For Translation Studies

Translation does not happen in a vacuum. It is a process of"rewriting"and"manipulation", thus the relationship involved in translation is one of inequality, imbalance and asymmetry between different cultures. This kind of understanding about translation was obtained in the 1970s and 1980s when descriptive translation called for a suspense of evaluating translation and an objective description of translation phenomena. And now this kind of recognition has become a consensus. But translation studies cannot stop hereat, the following questions must be asked and answered: facing this kind of situation, what should we do? How should we translate? Should we regard the existing as reasonable, or should we pursue a higher moral ideal? What exactly is a reasonable model in cross-cultural communication? Answers to these questions reflect better the value of translation studies. Based on this, the author does a tentative research trying to answer the above questions from the perspective of Geertz's interpretative anthropology.First, the author discusses that theoretical origin or source of Geertz's interpretative anthropology and its methodology are traced and explained. In the 1960s the world experienced a great anthropological crisis, thereby such anthropological masters as Geertz and interpretative anthropology school were born in anthropology of the west. His methodology consists of three specific methods. From the native's point of view, Geertz uses the method of the thick description and the concept of local knowledge to interpret anthropology. Among them, from the native's point of view, thick description and local knowledge are three of the most important methods in his interpretative anthropology.Secondly, the author discusses the negative effect of manipulation on translation studies. Just because of the expansion of the study field of translation through the cultural turn of translation studies, people see more clearly the nature of translation. In addition, the author also introduces simply cultural hegemony and talks about the Manipulation School and its major features. Due to the research of Manipulation School, people realize the insufficiency of translation studies at present and then try to find an appropriate and reasonable way of translation.Thirdly, the author offers her solution of the above problem by using the methodology of the interpretative anthropology. When introducing interpretative anthropology, the author explores the combination of interpretative anthropology and translation studies. In the eyes of anthropologists,"thick description"is a forceful means to defend marginal literature, cultural authenticity and legitimacy. The author emphasizes the importance of treating other culture equally. Interpretative anthropology stresses that man should give up arrogant elite stance and hegemonic position. Instead they should treat equally and respect sincerely the culture and wisdom all around the world, and let them participate in the discussion about the destiny of the human kind. In the process of translation, we must try to overcome cultural hegemony and manipulation to objectively reflect other culture. This democratic position should be the wisest choice.Finally, the era of globalization provides a broad platform for the different cultural communication, but also inevitably poses a challenge to the weak culture. The application of the methodology of interpretative anthropology to translation studies arouses people to protect the ethnic culture and establish an equal sense of cultural exchange. So"respect for differences, awe for civilization"is established as the most basic ethical significance in cross-cultural communication.