中医推拿英译命名探讨

English Translation of Tuina in TCM

中医推拿学的术语英译存在较多基础问题,缺乏规范的指导意见,国内外文献书籍中“推拿”一词的翻译存在错乱现象。本文重点关注“推拿”现有的译名,基于推拿学的定义及学科特点,从词义、词源、历史等角度厘清“massage”“chiropractic”“spinal manipulation”等西方传统疗法或新兴手法医学与“推拿”的关系,认为这些名词无法准确地表达“推拿”的学科内涵,不适用于翻译“推拿”。基于此,本文参考中医英译原则及各种译法,从历史沿革、英语使用习惯等方面考虑,提出“推拿”应以“tuina”为规范译名,“推拿学”则可译为“tuinaology”。

The translation of tuina exists basics problems,lacks reliable guidance,which results in translating mistakes in journals and books.This paper focus on the existing translation of tuina,and,by meaning,etymology and history,respectively sort out the relationship of massage,chiropractic,spinal manipulation and tuina,based on the definition and features of tuinaology.The finding is these terms are no perfect match for translation of tuina.Thus,with reference to the principles of TCM translation and several translating methods,as well as considering the history and custom,we put forward tuina and tuinaology as formal translation.