Medio-translatology as Acknowledged Development of Descriptive-Systemic Paradigm in Chinese Context: Reflections on Prof. Xie Tianzhen's Comparative Literature and Translation Studies: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

Abstract: Looking back at Prof. Xie Tianzhen's Comparative Literature and Translation Studies published in 2011, the paper reviews this collection of academic essays from a “meta” perspective and clarifies the following points: (1) In terms of its introduction of effective methodology and research paradigm, medio-translatology (yijiexue) has ushered the development of translation studies as an independent discipline in China. Together with Liao Qiyi and Wang Dongfeng, Xie was among the earliest Chinese scholars who emphasize “pure research” and descriptive paradigm, strengthening the rationale of the newly-developed discipline. (2) Translation studies as a discipline has become well established upon the explaining power exhibited by medio-translatology to explore translation phenomena of great social and cultural importance. (3) Xie walks with his western peers in the procession of “translation studies” and has developed his own theoretical framework that is widely acknowledged domestically and internationally. Deriving from descriptive-systemic (DS) paradigm starting in the west, medio-translatology is particularly applicable to approaching translated literature in Chinese context. This offers rather convincing argument against those who merely advocate “translation theories with Chinese characteristics” while rejecting western theories indiscriminately.

Key words: Xie Tianzhen, medio-translatology, translation studies, “descriptive/systemic” paradigm, “meta” perspective

摘要： 本文从学科史视角重读谢天振教授《比较文学与翻译研究》论文集,以揭示译介学研究在比较文学和翻译学科发展史上的重要意义:一、中国翻译学科得以真正建立的关键,在于方法论意识的确立和有效范式的引入,就这一过程而言,译介学研究在国内译学界起到了重要的引领和示范作用。谢天振和廖七一、王东风等先行者一起,最早引导国内翻译学者认识到描述性研究和纯理论研究的重要性,为翻译学科的建立奠定了学理基础。二、译介学研究展现了从比较文学视角进行翻译研究的全新路径,引导国内翻译学者发现和探讨了许多与社会文化发展密切相关、却长期被忽视的翻译和文学现象。这极大地增强了翻译研究对重要社会文化现象的解释力,促成了翻译学科的社会地位和影响力的不断上升。三、谢天振教授和佐哈尔、图里、勒菲弗尔等国外同行一起,走在“系统/描述”范式的行列中,各自独立发展出具有一定普适意义的翻译研究体系,发出了令各国学者服膺的声音。译介学研究融汇了“翻译研究派”的方法论,却能强有力地解释根植于中国土壤的翻译文化现象。这对于一味推崇“中国特色翻译学”而拒斥西方翻译理论的认识误区,做出了有力的回应。

关键词: 谢天振, 译介学, 翻译研究, “描述/系统”范式, 学科史视角

Jiang Fan. Medio-translatology as Acknowledged Development of Descriptive-Systemic Paradigm in Chinese Context: Reflections on Prof. Xie Tianzhen's Comparative Literature and Translation Studies: A Historical Perspective[J]. Comparative Literature in China, 2021, 0(4): 116-129.

江帆. 译介学研究: 令人服膺的中国声音——从学科史视角重读谢天振《比较文学与翻译研究》论文集[J]. 中国比较文学, 2021, 0(4): 116-129.

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