What is Translation?

What is translation? The process of code-switching between two languages may seem straightforward, but meeting the standards of "faithfulness, expressiveness, and elegance" is quite challenging. To improve translation skills, the most fundamental prerequisite is to understand what translation truly entails.

From the translator's perspective, almost every translator follows a set of standards during their translation practice. The common reference for these standards is translation norms, while the unique aspect lies in the translator's habitus. The two are not mutually exclusive; instead, they are interrelated and mutually reinforcing. Translation norms focus on the commonalities within a group, reflecting shared values and ideologies. In contrast, the translator’s habitus emphasizes individual particularities, reflecting the translator's social experiences and cognitive structures. As a common reference point within the translation community, translation norms exert significant social influence over translators' habitus. Conversely, as a translator's habitus develops and grows, it can be emulated by many translators, potentially evolving into translation norms. When the two do not align, the translator's habitus can still mediate and internalize translation norms, allowing them to function dynamically and adapt to the trends of the times. Thus, it is evident that a translator's habitus is an important source of updates and iterations for translation norms; together, they form the two major influencing factors in a translator's work. For translators, clarifying the relationship between their habitus and translation norms is essential to guide their translation direction and standards, ultimately making their translations more appealing.

From the reader's perspective, translation serves as a bridge between the source culture and the target culture, with the primary goal of helping readers understand the cultural elements depicted in the original work. Therefore, reader reception becomes an unavoidable topic for translators. The main task of a translator is to convey the heterogeneous cultural elements from the original text in a way that is easily understandable to the target language readers. During this process, translators often find themselves at a crossroads: On one hand, if they completely translate the foreign elements of the original text into the target language, the translation will lose its exotic charm and mysterious qualities, undermining the effectiveness of cultural dissemination. For example, translating Shakespeare's plays into classical Chinese could lead readers to envision specific scenarios from ancient China rather than the exotic imagery of Europe. This approach prioritizes content conversion while neglecting the transmission of local cultural nuances, resulting in a loss on both sides. On the other hand, if the translator opts for a direct and literal translation, readers unfamiliar with the original language and culture might feel as though they are looking at a series of "gibberish symbols," making it difficult to grasp the true content of the original work. Take the term “知青” (Zhīqīng) as an example: it is familiar to Chinese people but rarely understood by foreigners. If translated literally as “educated youth” or phonetically as “Zhi Qing,” target readers would fail to appreciate the profound connotation and historical context behind the term. Achieving a balance between content delivery and exotic flavor is crucial, enabling readers to not only comprehend the text but also appreciate the allure behind it.

The Confucian principle of "zhongyong" (the Doctrine of the Mean) states: “To be 'zhong' is to be impartial and just, neither excessive nor deficient; 'yong' means ordinary.” Translation is not merely a mechanical conversion of two languages; it requires finding balance amidst various standards and extremes.

◀️：Translation with Appropriate Adaptation

▶️：“The "Sense of Incongruity" in Foreign Literary Works