CALL FOR PAPERS: TRANSLATION AND PHILOSOPHY
TRANSLATION AND PHILOSOPHY SYMPOSIUM – HUMANITIES INSTITUTE, UCD, 26TH AND 27TH MARCH 2010.
Papers are invited on the theme ‘Translation and Philosophy’ for a two day symposium in March at University College Dublin.
The aim of the symposium is to explore the relationship between these two disciplines and papers are welcome from across a range of disciplines including, but not limited to: Translation Studies, Philosophy (both Continental and Analytic), German, French and English Literature, Linguistics and Intercultural Studies. Papers are particularly welcome from graduate students working in relevant areas. Papers may focus on some of the below questions, or on any aspect of the relationship between these two traditions:
What is the nature of the relationship between translation and philosophy? In their mutual search for meaning and greater understanding in what way can they be said to be similar? What are their differences? With philosophy, perhaps more than any other genre, translation is pushed to the limits in an effort to carry across terms that are not existent in the target language – words like différance, Geist, Dasein, to name but a few, are common currency in the English speaking philosophical world, how does this impact on English as a language in general? Could philosophy be said to be a type of translation? Is translation itself philosophical? Given that many of the great philosophical works are read in translation, to what extent is philosophy dependent on translation? To what extent has translation modified and re-invented the work of philosophers? From Descartes to Ricoeur philosophy has often strived to provide a ‘theory of translation’, what impact, if any, do these theories have on translation in practice? Is there a ‘perfect’ translation?
Papers should be appropriate for a 20-30 minute presentation. Full paper and abstracts (of 200-400 words) should be emailed to lisa.foran@ucdconnect.ie no later than 26TH FEBRUARY 2010, please indicate ‘Translation and Philosophy Symposium’ in the subject line.
Article: Shiyang Ran, Philosophical Interpretation on E. A. Nida’s Definition of Translation
Philosophical Interpretation on E. A. Nida’s Definition of Translation
Shiyang Ran
School of Foreign Languages, Shandong University
School of Foreign Languages, Yangtze Normal University
No 35, Jiangdong Region, Fuling 408100, Chongqing, China
E-mail: ranshiyang888@yahoo.com.cn
Abstract
Since 1980s, E.A. Nida’s translation equivalence theory experiences a history of rising, booming and declining in China, and his translation theories and concepts are also widely quoted and discussed. However, the focuses are mainly on what is equivalence, the realization of equivalence, what levels of equivalence, the applicability of his theory and mistranslation of his translation in China, and no one discusses his definition of translation from the perspective of philosophy. As the definition of translation will represent the basis and starting point for translation studies, analysing on it will facilitate our understanding to the theory. In this article, based on the tendency of absolutization to his definition, it is to analyse the presupposition and shortage of the definition by philosophical analysis and to urge following researchers to adopt a dialectic and critical attitude to western translation theories, which may advance Chinese translation studies in future.
Here.
Shiyang Ran
School of Foreign Languages, Shandong University
School of Foreign Languages, Yangtze Normal University
No 35, Jiangdong Region, Fuling 408100, Chongqing, China
E-mail: ranshiyang888@yahoo.com.cn
Abstract
Since 1980s, E.A. Nida’s translation equivalence theory experiences a history of rising, booming and declining in China, and his translation theories and concepts are also widely quoted and discussed. However, the focuses are mainly on what is equivalence, the realization of equivalence, what levels of equivalence, the applicability of his theory and mistranslation of his translation in China, and no one discusses his definition of translation from the perspective of philosophy. As the definition of translation will represent the basis and starting point for translation studies, analysing on it will facilitate our understanding to the theory. In this article, based on the tendency of absolutization to his definition, it is to analyse the presupposition and shortage of the definition by philosophical analysis and to urge following researchers to adopt a dialectic and critical attitude to western translation theories, which may advance Chinese translation studies in future.
Here.
