A Comparative Study Of Translating TCM Terms In English Versions Of Hong Lou Meng

Over the past decades, researches on HLM are popular, which mainly involves aspects of regions, historical figures, philosophy, poems, names, costume, diet, plants, tea, wine and etc. However, there are seldom researches on TCM, which also lack systematic concern as well.Medicines and prescriptions mentioned in HLM are carefully selected according to real prescripts and cases by Cao Xueqin. Therefore this research is based on medical science. Yang Hsien-yi and Hawks’ translation of TCM terms have their own styles and there exists many discrepancies in their translation of TCM terms, which serves as the basis of research and it can also shows their competence of term translation. Theories of term translation are adopted to analyze the translating of TCM terms. Meanwhile, inductive analysis, case analysis and method of text comparison are introduced to the thesis for the purpose of analyzing the translation of TCM terms in HLM. First, as the thesis would analyze two English versions of HLM, the author conducts the research by means of textual comparison method. Second, as the author would analyze the translation of TCM terms of HLM from the perspective of Terminology, Cultural Ecology, and Cross culture. So the author applies the interdisciplinary method. Third, as the paper would discuss the translation of some specific TCM terms of HLM, therefore case analysis has been adopted. Finally, since the Author has to analyze the translation of TCM terms through data collection and induction, comparative analysis and conclusion-making, the author apply quantitative statistics in the study.A glossary of TCM terms is formed based on the theories of term translation. Comments and judgments on two translators’ terms translation is made based on how precisely they have achieved concept equivalence and morphological equivalence in their translation of TCM terms. In addition, combined with cultural awareness and translation orientation, a further discussion about the strategies and methods for term transition is made. A quantitative analysis of the translation of TCM terms is applied to the paper in order to make a summary of the strategies applied by two translators in their translation, furthermore to check whether the translation of TCM terms is normal and whose translation is better. Based on the already existing principles and methods for term translation, some suggested principles and methods are advised. This research mainly deals with the following three tasks:First, it has made a comparative analysis of the translation of terms and point out whose translation is better. Second, a comparative analysis of translation orientation of two translators is carried out to explain why two translation differently. Third, some implications are given after above analysis. The research may be to some extend myopic, due to the TCM terms involves in HLM are typical but not comprehensive. By the means of comparative study of translating TCM terms of two English versions of HLM, the author finds that because of differences in cultural background, language knowledge, knowledge of Chinese medicine, two translators adopt TCM translation principles and methods in different ways, which results in great difference of the translation of TCM terms, meanwhile it adds obstacles to the spreading and communication of Traditional Chinese Medicine culture.Standards for TCM translation are not yet unified, internationalization still has a long way to go, the top priority of the moment is to introduce traditional Chinese medicine to foreign countries, so as to make more people understand TCM culture, and gradually dispel the bias from outside world for TCM. Moreover, the TCM terms should be treated as scientific terminology, in process of translating, it should give prior to convey the medicine information and appropriately sacrifice its literariness; so for the future research of TCM terms it should firstly pays more attention to the standardization of TCM term translation, and gradually involves TCM terms into the international Terminological system.