CONTENTS

Back to the Life-World: Phenomenological Reflections on Translation Studies / Hou Xiangqun & Lu Jun 5

Opening up the Space for Translation Criticism / Liu Yunhong 11

Translation as Hermeneutics: Ricoeur,s Philosophy of Translation / Wu Guangjun 16

The Travel of Texts and the Making of a Canon: How Han Shan,s Poems Have Gained a Classic Status in the United States / Ou Hong &Hu Anjiang 20

Reproducing the“Telling”Mode in Literary Translations after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 / Fang Kairui 26

Rethinking the Construction of a Pedagogical System for Translation Teaching / Liu Heping 35

Equivalence of Textual Function in Translation / Wang Hongyang 55

Pragmatic Approach to the Translation of Antithetic Couplets / Liu Hongmei 60

Translation of Culture-Loaded Dialect Words: With the Rendition of “cí”

in Turbulence as an Exemplar / Li Yingyu, Guo Jirong &Yuan Liling 64

Stress-reducing Strategies for Press Conference Interpretations / Xu Mingwu & Zuo Hongfen 77

E/C Translation Practice: China's Uneasy Billionaire / Xu Jianping & Mu Fengliang 82

C/E Translation Practice: Behind the Joke (Jian Lushi) / Wang Wuxing 86

Abstracts of Major Papers in This Issue 95

 English Abstracts of Major Papers in This Issue

Back to the Life-World: Phenomenological Reflections on Translation Studies

by Hou Xiangqun & Lu Jun ( Nanjing University of Information Sciences and Technology; Nanjing Normal University) p.5

Abstract: Assuming a phenomenological perspective, this paper identifies three attitudes toward translation studies, namely, the natural, the scientific and the philosophical attitude, which correspond respectively to the life-world, the scientific world and the philosophical world. The scientific attitude is typically shown in structural linguistically oriented theorists of translation, while the philosophical attitude tends to inform the deconstructive paradigm of translation studies. Popular as they are, these two attitudes have shown a tendency of leading translation studies away from reality, making it impossible for the discipline to maintain a close contact with the life-world where translation activities rightly belong. To guide translation studies back to the life-world, it is imperative that we promote the natural or realistic attitude among scholars in this field. In so doing, Habermas,s theory of communicative action would provide us with much-needed theoretical inspirations.

Key words: translatology; criticism; life-world; phenomenology

Opening up the Space for Translation Criticism

by Liu Yunhong (Nanjing University) p.11

Abstract: A properly developed translation criticism holds the key to a healthy growth of translation studies as a whole. Yet for quite some time, translation criticism in China remains in a state of languor, and critics often turn a blind eye to major problems in the practice. A principal reason for this sorry situation is the lack of a space for vigorous and effective criticism. For there to be such a space, it is necessary that we grant sufficient authorization to translation critics, promote a critical spirit among general practitioners in the discipline and lay down the norms and standards for critical evaluation.

Key words: translation criticism; space; authorization; critical spirit; critical standard

Translation as Hermeneutics: Ricoeur,s Philosophy of Translation

by Wu Guangjun (Beijing Foreign Studies University) p.16

Abstract: Ricoeur,s philosophy of translation consists of three essential ideas: translation as hermeneutics; linguistic hospitality as translational ethics; and a shift from the speculative problematic of “translatability vs. untranslatability” to the practical one of “faithfulness vs. betrayal”. A breakthrough in translation thinking, Ricoeur’s philosophy holds a couple of implications for TS: that the object of translation is neither langue nor parole, but text; that the illusion of “equivalence” and of “perfect translation” ought to be renounced; and that the plurality of translation modes should be endorsed.

Key words: translation; hermeneutics; philosophy of translation

The Travel of Texts and the Making of a Canon: How Han Shan,s Poems Have Gained a Classic Status in the United States

by Ou Hong & Hu Anjiang (Sun Yat-sen University; Sichuan International Studies University) p.20

Abstract: Marginalized in its home literary system, Han Shan,s poetry has nevertheless been canonized in the American literature of translations. In Han Shan we find a case pregnant with meanings for the writing of literary history in general, and for the writing of the history of literary translations in particular.

Key words: Han Shan; poem; literature of translations; the United States; canonization

Reproducing the“Telling”Mode in Literary Translations after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895

by Fang Kairui (Guangdong University of Foreign Studies) p.26

Abstract: “Telling” is a common narrative mode of fiction. This paper looks into how this mode was transferred in China's literary translations after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, comparing its rendition in the classical-Chinese version and the vernacular-Chinese version of the same original text respectively. It finds that versions in classical Chinese are often more faithful in transferring the“telling”mode of the source texts than their vernacular-Chinese counterparts. One possible explanation for the difference is that the two types of translators concerned tended to observe different translational conventions, and they meant their texts to perform different social functions by targeting different readers.

Key words: telling; translation; classical Chinese; vernacular Chinese; the zhanghui style of fiction

Rethinking the Construction of a Pedagogical System for Translation Teaching

by Liu Heping (Beijing Language and Culture University) p.35

Abstract: This article distinguishes between “teaching foreign languages through translation” and “teaching translation for its own sake,” maintaining that since the latter is devoted to professional training on concrete translation skills only, the former ought not to be taken for one of its components. Drawing from cognitive psychology’s insight that mastery of skills could be achieved on the elementary, the intermediate and the advanced level, the author further argues that the translation or interpretation classes for foreign languages majors, for undergraduate majors in translation, and for master students of translation should be differentiated primarily on the basis of (1) the contents of skills training, and (2) the targeted level of mastery.

Key words: translation teaching system; cognitive psychology; skills training; sequencing

Equivalence of Textual Function in Translation

by Wang Hongyang (Ningbo University) p.55

Abstract: Applying a Systemic Functional Linguistic perspective to an examination of the concept of “equivalence of textual function”in translation studies, this paper discusses the patterns whereby the said equivalence is achieved, arguing that since “equivalence of textual function” is realizable only in terms of thematic structure and cohesion, it ought to be treated as a semantic concept. In conclusion, the paper calls for attaching more importance to functional than to formal equivalence.

Key words: Systemic Functional Linguistics; equivalence of textual function; thematic structure; cohesion

Pragmatic Approach to the Translation of Antithetic Couplets

by Liu Hongmei (Jia Ying University) p.60

Abstract: Taking into full consideration the differences between English and Chinese and the uniqueness of the Chinese language, this paper discusses pragmatic strategies for rendering antithetic couplets into English, paying special attention to how the covert meanings and the cultural images in the original could be kept in order to obtain a dynamic pragmatic equivalence in the translation. Specifically, it argues that 1) translating antithetic couplets, as an act of cross-cultural communication, necessarily involves two cultures as well as two languages; 2) since it is exceedingly difficult to keep a dialectical unity in both content and form between the original and the translation, couplet translation constitutes one of the most challenging and the most difficult kinds of C-E translation; 3) a flexible approach should be adopted in order to retain the cultural image conveyed in the original as much as possible and to achieve a dynamic pragmatic equivalence.

Key words: antithetic couplet; pragmatics; translation; pragmatic equivalence

Translation of Culture-Loaded Dialect Words: With the Rendition of “cí” in Turbulence as an Exemplar

by Li Yingyu, Guo Jirong &Yuan Liling (Xi,an Jiaotong University; Beijing International Studies University) p.64

Abstract: The article discusses the translation of culture-loaded dialect words from the perspective of the relevance theory. By analyzing the case of how the dialect word“cí” is rendered in Turbulence, the paper concludes that precision in understanding and subtlety in expression are especially important in the translation of culture-loaded words. Where necessary, supplementary modifiers should be employed to help achieve the optimal relevance.

Key words: dialect; culture-loaded word; translation; optimal relevance

Stress-reducing Strategies for Press Conference Interpretations

by Xu Mingwu & Zuo Hongfen (Huazhong University of Science and Technology) p.77

Abstract: Keeping an eye on the nature of translation, the present article explores the causes for the psychological pressure which interpreters tend to feel. Analyzing the data collected from some top-level official press conferences in recent years, the authors identify a number of strategies for reducing the interpreter,s stress, emphasizing the need meanwhile to take the interpreter,s competence into consideration when deciding which strategy to apply.

Key words: press conference interpretation; pressure; pressure-reducing strategies