International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation

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Translator Behavior Criticism---Ten Years in China

Received: Feb. 12, 2020    Accepted: Feb. 27, 2020    Published: Mar. 10, 2020
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Abstract

Translator behavior criticism theory is regarded as one of the main current translation studies theory in China. It is proposed by Professor Zhou Lingshun in 2010 and now it has been for 10 years. In 2014, he made his proposals clearly in two of his influential books. After that, this theory has drawn a lot of attention from the academic circle and the number of related articles on it is increasing year by year. This article starts from changes of the role of translator and translator’s position as the center, which provides the background for this theory. Then it moves on to make clear the main proposals and practice of this theory, especially his “truth-seeking and utility attaining” continuum mode of evaluation. Through this continuum mode, one can measure the degree of rationality of a translator’s behavior by taking various factors into consideration, and then the evaluation of the translated version. This theory provides a new perspective on translation by combining translator’s behavior with translation. But in practice, some scholars also questioned the manipulability of his continuum mode. So in the end, this article talks about the significance and limitations of this theory. His theory is a breakthrough in translation studies, but still needs to be further polished.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijalt.20200601.14
Published in International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation ( Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2020 )
Page(s) 24-28
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Translator Behavior Criticism, Truth-seeking, Utility-attaining, Cultural Turn, Translator

References
[1] Zhou Lingshun. (2014a) A Theoretical Framework for Translator Behavior Criticism (M). Beijing: The Commercial Press.
[2] Zhou Lingshun. (2014b) Approaches to Translator Behavior Criticism (M). Beijing: The Commercial Press. P. 250.
[3] Godard, Barbara. (1990) ‘Theorizing Feminist Discourse/Translation’ in Susan Bassnett and Andre Lefevere (eds) Translation, History and Culture, London: Pinter. P. 91.
[4] Nida Eugene A. (1993). Languge, Culture, and transalting (M). Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
[5] Bassnett, Susan and Andre Lefevere (eds) (1990) Translation, History and Culture (M), London: Cassell.
[6] Bassnett, Susan (2014) Translation Studies (M). 4th edn, London and New York: Routledge. P. 3.
[7] Hatim, B. and I. Mason. (1990) Discourse and the Translator (M). London/New York: Longman.
[8] Robinson, D. (1991) The Translator’s Turn (M). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
[9] Hammond, L. (ed.) (1994) Professional Issues for Translators and Interpreters. In American Translators Association Scholarly Monograph Series. Vol. VII (C). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
[10] Venuti, Lawrence. (1995) The Translator’s Invisibility: A History of Translation (M), London: Routledge.
[11] Delisle, J. & Woodsworth, J. (eds.) (1995) Translators Through History (M). Amsterdam: Benjamins Publishing Co.
[12] Fraser, J. (1996) The Translator Investigated: Learning from Translation Process Analysis (J). The Translator. (1): 79.
[13] Wilss, W. (1996) Knowledge and Skills in Translator Behavior (M). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
[14] Hatim, B. (1997) The Translator as Communicator (M). London and New York: Routledge.
[15] Robinson, D. (2001). Who Translate? Translator Subjectivities Beyond Reason (M). Albany: State University of New York Press.
[16] Venuti, Lawrence. (1992) Rethinking Translation: Discourse, Subjectivity, Ideology (M). London: Routledge.
[17] Zhou Lingshun, (2010) Translator Behavior and the “Truth-Seeking---Utility Attaining” Continuum Mode of Evaluation (J). In Foreign Language Education (1): 93-97.
[18] Shen Jie. (2017). On the Translator Behavior Criticism (J). In Journal of Qiqihar University (8): 127-129.
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    Binghui Li. (2020). Translator Behavior Criticism---Ten Years in China. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 6(1), 24-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20200601.14

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    ACS Style

    Binghui Li. Translator Behavior Criticism---Ten Years in China. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2020, 6(1), 24-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20200601.14

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    Binghui Li. Translator Behavior Criticism---Ten Years in China. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2020;6(1):24-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20200601.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20200601.14,
      author = {Binghui Li},
      title = {Translator Behavior Criticism---Ten Years in China},
      journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
      volume = {6},
      number = {1},
      pages = {24-28},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20200601.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20200601.14},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20200601.14},
      abstract = {Translator behavior criticism theory is regarded as one of the main current translation studies theory in China. It is proposed by Professor Zhou Lingshun in 2010 and now it has been for 10 years. In 2014, he made his proposals clearly in two of his influential books. After that, this theory has drawn a lot of attention from the academic circle and the number of related articles on it is increasing year by year. This article starts from changes of the role of translator and translator’s position as the center, which provides the background for this theory. Then it moves on to make clear the main proposals and practice of this theory, especially his “truth-seeking and utility attaining” continuum mode of evaluation. Through this continuum mode, one can measure the degree of rationality of a translator’s behavior by taking various factors into consideration, and then the evaluation of the translated version. This theory provides a new perspective on translation by combining translator’s behavior with translation. But in practice, some scholars also questioned the manipulability of his continuum mode. So in the end, this article talks about the significance and limitations of this theory. His theory is a breakthrough in translation studies, but still needs to be further polished.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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Author Information
  • School of English Language, Literature and Culture, Beijing International Studies University, Beijing, China

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