A Skopos Theory-Based Study of Translation Strategies of Traditional Chinese Medicine Terms: a Case Study of Shāng Hán Lùn
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A Skopos theory-based Study of Translation Strategies of Traditional Chinese Medicine Terms: A Case Study of Shāng Hán Lùn Riliu Huang A thesis submitted in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Research) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences The University of Sydney August 2020 STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY This is to certify that to the best of my knowledge the content of this thesis is my own work. I also declare that this thesis has not been submitted for any other degree or diploma at this or any other university. I certify that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work and that all the assistance received in preparing this thesis and sources have been acknowledged. Riliu Huang 5 August 2020 i ABSTRACT After thousands of years of medical practice, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has developed into a unique medical theoretical system. As a result of the deepening exchanges between China and foreign countries and the extensive spread of TCM therapies and health culture, an increasing number of people are longing to develop a deeper understanding of TCM. TCM is imbued with Chinese cultural and historical elements, and its nomenclature and treatment methods are very different from Western medicine. Over the years, a large number of TCM practitioners and linguists have committed themselves to the translation of TCM. However, due to the lack of systematic theoretical guidance, translators resort to varying translation strategies, leading to inconsistency and confusion in TCM terminology translation. Therefore, in TCM terminology translation, special effort should be made to ensure target readers can comprehend the medical utility and meaning of TCM terms under the condition that the cultural connotations contained therein are well preserved. Skopos theory enables translators to give consideration to purposes of translation, cultural environment, and feelings of target readers, breaking through the language paradigm in translation. By referring to Skopos theory and TCM translation principles, this study aims to develop a target-reader oriented TCM terminology translation method, and concludes that translation methods and strategies can be flexibly selected according to the purposes of translation. To ensure the accuracy of TCM terminology translation and facilitate the acceptance and understanding of target readers, a domestication translation strategy is recommended for TCM terms that have counterparts in Western medicine; and for those that contain unique Chinese medical ideas or traditional Chinese cultural concepts and philosophical thoughts, a foreignisation translation strategy should be adopted to retain their underlying cultural uniqueness. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I would like to offer my special thanks to my supervisor, Associate Professor Christine Ji. The advice given by her has been a great help for me in determining the research purpose and direction of this thesis. Whenever I encountered problems and difficulties, it is her timely assistance that made me successfully overcome them; and it is her patient encouragement that propelled me to bravely move ahead. My thanks also go to Dr Wei Wang, A/Prof. Linda Tsung and Prof. Bonnie McDougall, who provided constructive suggestions to my thesis in the Annual Progress Review. I would like to thank Dr Bronwen Dyson, whose courses Introduction to Thesis Writing and Writing a Thesis Chapter delivered me the knowledge about how to write a thesis with logic, and Dr Steve O’Shea (www.DrO- Editing.com) for his editing of a draft of this thesis. My special thanks also go to Mr Jinshan He, a friend of mine who provided me valuable suggestions when I encountered difficulties in learning. My deepest gratitude goes to my mother, Liping Zhang, who has selflessly offered me superior growth and education environments. I would also like to thank my friends Yixin Liang, Zhengran Chen, Martin Ren, Zixin Lin, Xiaocheng Hu and Chenyu Liu, who have always encouraged me to keep a smile and heartened me during frustrating days. I also want to thank Dr Jiwei Lian for his exhortation when I was slackened, for his accompanying me through thick and thin. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ....................................................................... i ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................ vii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................. viii ABBREVIATIONS............................................................................................... x Chapter 1 Introduction .......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction to the development of translation of TCM ............................ 1 1.1.1 Study on English translation of ancient Chinese medicine classics .... 2 1.1.2 Summary of standardisation process of TCM terms .......................... 3 1.2 Introduction to Shāng Hán Lùn and its three English versions .................. 7 1.2.1 Selection of Shāng Hán Lùn original texts ........................................ 8 1.2.2 Three English versions of Shāng Hán Lùn and their translators ......... 9 1.3 Research purposes and significance ........................................................ 10 1.4 Thesis structure ....................................................................................... 11 Chapter 2 Literature Review ............................................................................... 13 2.1 Research on the consistency and standardisation of traditional Chinese medicine terms ...................................................................................... 13 2.1.1 Research on the international standardisation of TCM terms by Chinese medical scientists and linguists ....................................................... 14 2.1.2 Research on international standardisation of TCM terms by Western medical scientists and linguists ....................................................... 17 2.1.3 Remarks.......................................................................................... 22 2.2 Research on the translation strategies and methods of C–E translations of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) terminology .................................. 24 2.2.1 Introduction to translation methods and strategies ........................... 25 2.2.2 Research on domestication and foreignisation in English translation of iv traditional Chinese medicine terms ................................................. 30 2.2.3 Research on methods of English translation of traditional Chinese medicine terms ............................................................................... 34 2.2.4 Remarks.......................................................................................... 38 Chapter 3 Theoretical Framework and Analytical Methods ................................. 41 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................ 41 3.2 Theoretical framework ........................................................................... 41 3.2.1 Basic concepts of Skopos theory ..................................................... 42 3.2.2 Applicability of Skopos theory to TCM term translation ................. 44 3.3 Principles of TCM terminology translation ............................................. 46 3.4 An integrated approach to TCM terminology translation evaluation........ 48 3.5 Analytical methods ................................................................................. 50 3.5.1 Selection of the original text and its English versions ...................... 50 3.5.2 Collection methods of linguistic materials in Shāng Hán Lùn .......... 51 3.6 Research questions ................................................................................. 52 3.7 General remarks ..................................................................................... 52 Chapter 4 Analysis and Discussion of TCM terms............................................... 53 4.1 Discussion on Chinese–English (C–E) translation of symptomatic terms 53 4.1.1 Analysis and discussion of the consistent translation of symptom names ....................................................................................................... 55 4.1.2 Analysis and discussion of the translation of symptom names with the same name in modern Western medicine ........................................ 58 4.1.3 Analysis and discussion of the translation of symptom names with the word “恶 wù” ................................................................................ 63 4.1.4 Analysis and discussion of partially consistent translation of symptom names ............................................................................................. 66 4.1.5 Analysis and discussion of the translation of inconsistent symptom names ............................................................................................. 74 4.1.6 Remarks.......................................................................................... 78 4.2 Discussions on Chinese–English