Overview

This book brings new perspectives and insights to the discipline of translation studies at a time when Western theories dominate its main discourse. By highlighting the significant contribution of Chinese scholar Qian Zhongshu, which encompasses a theoretical probing of the process and product of translation in both China and the West, the author demonstrates how Qian’s reconceptualization of the concept of translation expands the discourse to include and integrate concepts from the history of translation in China. The concept of “huajing,” which is one of these cultural perspectives developed by Qian, transcends the conventional view of translation as a linguistic transfer, envisioning it, instead, as a dynamic realm where encounters with meaning between the textual worlds of China and the West can take place.Through a meticulous analysis of Qian’s profound, though stylistically fragmentary, commentaries, the author reveals how his comparative vision creates connections by breaking down linguistic and cultural barriers, challenging notions of untranslatability that often hinder cross-cultural exchange, and anticipating an inclusive and globalized understanding of translation so urgently needed today.

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9781032446288

Table of Contents

Reviews

Qian Zhongshu, arguably the most erudite scholar in modern China and a towering figure in bringing China and the West together in cross-cultural understanding, has offered his brilliant insights on translation and translation theory based on his deep understanding of the Chinese tradition as well as Western culture. Chang’s book, Bridging Worlds, provides a much-needed and detailed discussion of Qian’s conceptualization of translation as distinct from either the predominant Western views or traditional Chinese commentaries, and offers rich materials for further exploration. This book will be of interest to scholars and students in translation studies, comparative and world literature, and more widely in literary and cultural studies in general. --------Zhang Longxi, author of A History of Chinese Literature (Routledge 2023) and World Literature as Discovery: Expanding the World Literary Canon (Routledge 2024)

Author Information

Chang, Chung-An is an Associate Professor of English-Chinese Translation and Interpreting at the Department of English Language and Literature at Soochow University in Taipei. His teaching and research interests include translation and interpreting pedagogy, translation theory, and East-West cross-cultural studies. He has published scholarly articles in academic journals both in Taiwan and internationally.

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