“新术语”与“新知识”:明清数学翻译中的术语考察

“New Terms”and“New Knowledge”:A Survey of Terms in the Translation of Mathematics in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

明清两朝在翻译西方数学经典著作的过程中确立了诸多数学术语,在此基础上形成了汉译数学术语体系。这些新形成的数学术语蕴涵着新的数学知识。本研究以明清数学典籍翻译中的术语为考察对象,在梳理术语命名用字规律的基础上探赜术语背后承载的知识内容和科学思想。作者从明清数学翻译中的术语入手,探讨新术语体系的形成,以及新知识体系的构建,从而进一步讨论明清数学翻译中术语蕴含的科学思想史意义。本文试图还原明清译者对中国数学翻译的历史性贡献,分析他们在科技翻译实践、近代科学思想启蒙,以及中西科技思想会通等方面所作出的贡献。

During the Ming and Qing dynasties,numerous mathematical terms were established in the process of translating Western mathematical classics,forming a system of Chinese-translated mathematical terminology.These newly formed terms encapsulate new mathematical knowledge.This study focuses on the terminology used in the translation of mathematical texts from the Ming and Qing periods,examining the patterns in the naming of these terms and exploring the knowledge content and scientific ideas they convey.By investigating the terminology from the mathematical translations of the Ming and Qing dynasties,we explore the formation of the new terminology system and the construction of new knowledge systems.This leads to a further discussion on the significance of the scientific ideas embodied in the translated terms within the context of the history of scientific thought.This paper aims to restore the historical contributions of Ming and Qing translators to Chinese mathematics,analyzing their contributions to the practice of scientific translation,the enlightenment of modern scientific thought,and the integration of Chinese and Western scientific ideas.