Translation Study Of Mai-related Terms In The Yellow Emperor’s Canon Of Medicine From The Perspective Of Conceptual Integration Theory By Zhang Huan

The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine(Huangdi Neijing,hereafter as Neijing)is characterized with its exquisite language and rich cultural connotation.In order to provide a passage for the world to understand Chinese medicine,the English translation of Neijing has also become the focus of many scholars and researchers.However,most of the research on the English translation of Neijing is mainly related to cultural connotations,rhetoric,etc.Studies combining a systematic theory with specific topics in Neijing are inadequate.Under this background,this paper intends to combine the conceptual integration theory brought up by American cognitive scientists Fauconnier and Turner to analyze the English translation of "mai-related terms" in Neijing.With Chinese literal translation of "Neijing" edited by Wang Hongtu and its English translation by Li Zhaoguo as references,this paper will take on the perspective of conceptual integration to study the cognitive process of "mai-related terms" in Neijing,in order to provide some inspiration for research regarding TCM translation.The cognitive process of the translation of mai-related terms is performed under four types of integration networks,namely,simplex network,mirror network,single-scope network and double-scope network.During the process of translating "mai-related terms",the translator will generate four mental spaces:the original language space,the translator’s space,the generic space and the blending space of the "mai-related terms".Through cross-mapping,the original language space and the translator space project their common and abstract organization as well as structures to the generic space.Then,under the restriction of the generic space,all elements of the original language space and the translator space are projected to the blending space,and through "combination","completion" and "elaboration",an emergent structure is produced,that is,the structure containing the new meaning(translation)of "mai-related terms".Several results were obtained by exploring the cognitive process of the translation of "mai-related terms".Firstly,under the simplex network,the original language space lacks equivalents in the translator space,which leads to obstruction of communication,such mai-related terms are suitable for literal translation and transliteration,through which the pronunciation and names of some Chinese terms are conveyed and features of traditional Chinese medicine preserved.Secondly,the translation of the "mai-related terms" under the mirror network is the simplest,which usually generates direct projection.In this network,the two input spaces contain the same frames and structure,and liberal translation should be introduced such that the translation of "mai-related terms" can both achieve equivalence regarding the sentence pattern and meaning.Thirdly,there are two situations in the translation of "mai-related terms" under single-scope network.In this network,either the frame and structure of the original language space or those of the translator space are projected into the generic space,mostly via literal translation.So the translated version of the "mai’-related terms" can achieve either formal equivalence or conceptual equivalence.Lastly,the translation of "mai-related terms" under dual-scope network is the most complicated.In this type of network,the two input spaces have different organizational frames,and both of them are projected into the generic space.In such a case,literal translation,or target language orientation should be the priority,which requires the translator to deliver a localized translation as much as possible by practicing his or her language skills.Through analysis,it can be concluded that conceptual integration theory can intuitively and dynamically demonstrate the cognitive process of TCM translation,and can be applied as an effective theory for the study of the cognitive mechanism of TCM translation.Guided by this theory,the translator’s conceptual integration in the mental space can be analyzed,enabling us to observe the cognitive process of translation.Therefore,it provides theoretical support for analyzing the translation in Chinese medicine,especially the translation of mai-related terms or texts,for the purpose of promoting communication of TCM pulsology,and further spread TCM culture.