20th Century Shanghai Translation Publishing and Cultural Change

Author: Zou Zhenhuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-03-01
Features: Translation itself is a form of communication between different cultural traditions and systems, even different civilizations. At different times, in different environments, and with different translators, the focus and hotspots of attention often vary greatly, with personal interests being a minor factor and more rooted in the changes within culture itself. The same work can be interpreted completely differently by different translators and readers, with conscious or unconscious misinterpretations or profound understandings, beyond individual competence, more often stemming from differing cultural backgrounds. Since modern times, a large number of new terms have been introduced from the West and Japan, and many old terms have acquired entirely new meanings. However, the differences in people's understanding or the interpretations of meaning attached to the same term are astonishingly profound, serving as clear evidence. The study of the history of translation and publishing will guide us to examine the changes in Chinese thought since modern times from a deeper level, through this cultural dialogue, misunderstanding, and correction.