西医东渐侧面观:合信的西医编译策略

A Side View of the Introduction of Western Medicine:Benjamin Hobson's Translation Strategy of Western Medicine Books

合信是近代在华传播西医的先驱者之一,其编译的西医著作影响深远。为了减小西医传播的阻力,他主要翻译西医优长的解剖学和外科知识,且调整了部分内容。译著中所用词汇和语言尽量本土化,并常引儒家或中医经典。书中使用了大量的精美插图,也使它广受欢迎。针对当时的社会环境及读者的文化心理,合信也有相应的考虑和设计。这些编译策略有助于西医知识的传播,也体现了西医在华传播初期较为谦虚和委婉的姿态。

As one of the leading pioneers who introduced western medicine into China , Benjamin Hobson and his translations were profoundly influenced Chinese scholars . In order to reduce the resistance in dissemination , he put emphasis on anatomy and surgery and modified several contents .Local languages and words from Confucianism or Chinese medicine classics were constantly used .A lot of illustrations also be interspersed making these books popular .Considered the social environment and Chinese readers’ cultural psychology , Hobson took the corresponding measure during the translation .Those strategies embody a modest attitude at the early stage of the eastward dissemination of western medicine and also contributed to the spread of western medicine as well .