What is Translation?

What is translation? To quote Vermeer, it is "the expression of information from the source text in another language." In the field of linguistics, the term "traduire" can refer to the general concept or phenomenon of translation, to the product of translation (the translated text), or to the translation process itself. The process of translating between two different languages involves transforming a text written in one language into a text written in another language. I believe that translation serves as a means of communication and exchange between two languages and cultures. Through translation, people from two different nations can glimpse the similarities in their thought processes and cognitive systems, while also recognizing differences—differences rooted in distinct natural environments, climate resources, and modes of labor. It is precisely these differences that give rise to diverse ethnic groups, languages, and cultures around the world. Because of this, we enjoy a richly varied human civilization and culture. Translation allows us to appreciate this remarkable phenomenon. Without translation, different nations, even multiple ones, would struggle to communicate fluently, failing to introduce their differences to one another, and human civilization would lack its vast array of achievements.

The translations we encounter at this stage are mostly quite simple, often involving a word-for-word rendering from the source language into the target language. Yet it is from these straightforward processes that I gradually come to appreciate the beauty of the art of translation. For instance, in translating the proverb "隔墙有耳" (literally, "Walls have ears") into French, we find "Les murs ont des oreilles." Here, we see that both the French and Chinese cultures share similar thoughts about "walls" and "ears." However, when considering the proverb "开弓没有回头箭," which translates to "Le vin est tiré, il faut le boire" (literally, "Once the wine is drawn, it must be consumed"), we discover differing cultural contexts. This variation stems from the primary agricultural products and political systems of the two nations. The French have a long history of cultivating grapes and producing wine, making it a staple in their social life, while Chinese agrarian civilization emphasizes rice as the main food source, leading to the prevalence of "grain liquor," known today as baijiu. 

Likewise, within Chinese culture, there exists a wealth of content related to alcohol, most notably seen in poetry about wine, such as "今朝有酒今朝醉，明日愁来明日愁" ("Drink today while you have wine; let tomorrow's worries come tomorrow") and "对酒当歌，人生几何" ("Sing to the wine, for how short is life"). However, this "wine" is not the same as French wine. Through the translation of these seemingly small proverbs, we uncover various differences arising from regional, climatic, governmental, and societal factors. Without translation, we would miss these subtle distinctions, let alone engage in direct communication with one another.

Thus, translation is not merely about converting the source language into another language; it is not simply about translating a sentence or an article. More importantly, it serves as a tool for mutual communication and understanding among humans.

◀️：A Brief Analysis of Katharina Reiss's Text Type Theory

▶️：On the Translation Differences of Harry Potter in China