중국에서의 번역의 지위 및 페미니즘 번역이론의 발전

Abstract

Viewed from the feminist translation theory, translation in China has double status, unlike in West, which was compared to the status of women and therefore, derogated. On the one hand, translation had a minor status as a female image and neglected in the Chinese society. But on the other, it sometimes had a male image and was revered, enriching the nation’s wealth and troops and raising the nation in difficult times. While the status of translation has been contradictory, the standard of translation has been faithfully emphasized in China. The status of translation in China has long been subject to controversy in terms of feminism, in other words, the question of gender. However, the Opium War and the new cultural May 4 Movement in the early 20th Century introduced western feminism to China and the Chinese women led their liberation movement in spiritual awareness. They laid claim to the abolishment of the feudal system, the equality of education for men and women, economic independence of women, free love, etc. With the establishment of New China in 1949, female liberalization was realized but it was rather a politically used Marxist female liberalization. In the late 1990’s, the realigned western feminist translation theory was introduced, attracting attention in China. Accordingly, lots of academic papers were produced and female feminist translators tried to apply western translation strategies to their works and emphasize female identity, create female language, shed light on female issues, express feminist ideology and re-translate their works. However, compared to West, their efforts failed to produce practical results nor break away from their translation style, which was faithfulness. Nevertheless, feminist translation theory has expanded the vision and scope of domestic translation studies and continues to pose a lot of research questions.