发表时间:2015-11-29 来源：
At 7 pm on November 5th, 2015, a lecture entitled “The History, Status and Prospect of Translation of Science and Technology (TST) in China” was held in Classroom 115 of the Liberal Arts Building by Professor Duan Yihao from the School of Foreign Languages (SFL). The lecture began in a relaxing atmosphere. From the historical point of view, Professor Duan explained the history and significance of TST in China, and guided the students to treat the prospect of TST with the vision of development. This lecture stimulated students’ enthusiasm for the study of TST, and further promoted the smooth progress of foreign language teaching in SFL.
At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Duan related the long history of China, clarifying the important function of translation, namely injecting the running water into Chinese history. From the explanation of Professor Duan, students learned the history of the translation of Buddhist scriptures (TBS) and its influence on TST. In terms of the working mode, TBS underwent three periods: the first period in which a foreign scholar served as the master translator, the second period in which foreign and domestic translators worked together, and the third period in which a domestic scholar served as the master translator. TST in the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty went through the same periods as TBS. It made the second climax in the history of Chinese translation and also the first climax in the history of communication between Chinese and western cultures. The arrival of Jesuits brought the modern knowledge of science and technology to China. And through the efforts of scholar-bureaucrats and missionaries at that time, the modern western culture, science, medicine and other knowledge were introduced into China, ushering in the civilization of modern science and technology.
Then Professor Duan introduced the achievements and influences of TST in the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty. Students present understood the significance of communication between Chinese and western cultures for the improvement of the comprehensive strength of a nation and the important role of translation acting as a bridge in this process. Professor Duan made a contrast of the prosperity of TST in the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty and its recession after the Qing Dynasty adopted the closed-door policy. Students present gained a deeper understanding of the close connection between translation and a country’s development as well as the practical significance of the knowledge acquired.
Throughout the lecture, Professor Duan connected TST with the history. From the perspective of TST, he presented the whole picture of China’s modern history. With the aim of “being practical”, learning from foreigners and competing with them” and “striving to become stronger and richer”, the Westernization Movement played a leading role in the development of TST. There were economic, political and military demands for translation and translation exerted an impact on the reform. With Professor Duan’s explanation in simple terms, students understood both the TST history of modern China and the continuous exploration of modern Chinese people. It is worth mentioning that Professor Duan also introduced the history of Translation Academy of Shanxi Grand School. Under the financial aid of Richard Timothy, dozens of translators translated a number of books in the difficult conditions, most of which were textbooks used in grand and middle-sized schools, and contributed a lot to the development of science and education of China.
In the lecture, the translation thoughts and modes explained by Professor Duan also left a deep impression on the audience. The progressive process of “translation, assimilation and surmounting” has different approaches but equally satisfactory results with the translation criterion of “faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance” which was put forward by Yan Fu. The mode of combining translation and production practiced by Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau also set good examples for today’s science and technology translators. Professor Duan told students that to meet the realistic demand of social and ecomonic development today, TST should be based on application and provide good-quality and highly-efficient service for production and social development.
History tells future. Since the foundation of new China, TST of China has become increasingly prosperous, especially today when China’s national strength is increasingly growing and its international position is increasingly enhanced. Translation enjoys broader expanding space and a better prospect. However, Professor Duan also warned that we should see the problems behind the prosperity. The shortage of top-level talents, the overflow of contracting phenomena and the increasing number of amateur translators - all of these are problems to be solved in the transation circle. In this regard, Professor Duan proposed two solutions. First, the government should strengthen the supervision over translations and the management of translators. Second, more attention should be paid to the cultivation of translation talents, especially at the level of fundamental education. Professor Duan thinks that only in this way can the translation of science and technology in China develop better and further.
In this lecture, under the guidance of Professor Duan, students grasped the development of the translation of science and technology in China, had a better understanding of TST and increased interest in foreign language learning. It is believed that through this lecture, more students will approach TST and know more about it, hence making contributions to TST in China and the world.
Student Union of the Youth League Committee
School of Foreign Languages
Shanxi University
November 5th, 2015
(2015MTI)