The role of translation studies and translation theory in the far east

Abstract

The translation activity, which began to transform into a discipline with James Holmes’s, seminal paper entitled "The Name and Nature of Translation Studies" in 1972 has increasingly established relationship with such disciplines as linguistics, literature, sociology, philosophy, anthropology, archeology, and so on. In terms of this relationship between Translation Studies and these disciplines, this academic field of study has also evolved into an inter-disciplinary branch of science over time. As a result, scholars have introduced many different theories and approaches under linguistic, cultural, sociological and technological revolutions and turns within TS. The foundations of translation studies have begun to be established in this way. Upon considering overall TS literature, one can see that most of the translation theories and approaches are actually western-centered. In fact, it may be because the West is in a sense more advanced than the East in terms of scientific developments. But did only the Western approaches have an impact on the translation in terms of its gaining a scientific status? What is the position of far eastern countries like China on translation and translation studies? What is the contribution of both west and far eastern scholars to the far east in the advancement of translation studies? Have the far eastern scholars ever put forward any theories or approaches to contribute to the translation process, its function, and production, like their counterparts in the west or have they at least conducted studies in this respect? In this geography, what kind of translation problems do scholars deal with and what are the similarities and differences between East and West? Based on these questions, the study questions the place of translation studies and translation theories in the far eastern countries such as China and makes a scrutinization on how they are received in these geographies. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the emergence of new paradigms in order to support the progressive structure of translation studies in parallel with the translation needs in the far east.