赛先生的翻译:明末清初的科学翻译探索——兼论中国翻译历史及理论发展

"Mr.Science" in Translation:Science Translation in the Ming and Qing Dynasties——For the Development of Chinese Translation History and Theories

纵观漫长的中国翻译史,中国翻译事业经历了四次高潮:东汉至唐宋末年的佛经翻译,明末清初的科学翻译,五四运动时期及其之后的西学翻译、革命理论和文学翻译,新中国成立至今尤其是改革开放后蓬勃发展的中国翻译。每一次高潮都呈现出鲜明的特点,都对中国社会的发展产生不可估量的作用。明末清初时期的翻译虽然都始于宗教的传入,但与之前时期相比,翻译不再是以宗教文献为主,取而代之则是科技著作翻译:翻译"赛先生"。由此,成为中国翻译史上一个分水岭,拉开了系统地翻译科技文献的序幕,对中国科技发展产生了深远影响。

There are four climaxes in the long history of Chinese translation,i.e.the first climax dominated by Buddhist scripture translation from the Eastern Han to Tang and Song Dynasties,the second characterized by the translation of scientific and technical literature in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties,the third featured by the translation of western works including revolutionary theories and literary works during the May Fourth Movement and its later,and the fourth typified by the vigorous development of China＇s translation undertaking since the establishment of new China,especially the reform and opening-up.Every climax presents a distinctive feature and has an immeasurable effect on the development of Chinese society.The translation,as in the past,began with the introduction of religion in the late Ming and early Qing.However,compared with the previous periods,it mainly introduced scientific and technical documents instead of religious texts.As a result,in the history of Chinese translation,this period of translation became a watershed,a prologue to translating scientific and technical documents systematically,which exerted a great influence on the development of science and technology in China.