Why is it said that the development of culture is inseparable from translation?

Mondo Social Updated on 2024-01-31

The history of human development is a history of exchanges, mutual learning and symbiosis among diverse civilizations. Therefore, the development of human civilization is inseparable from translation activities. Culture is an important form of expression of human civilization, and translation plays an indispensable role in its development and dissemination.

Language is not only a tool, but also carries the expression of a nation, a culture, and a history, and behind each language has its profound historical and cultural connotations. Translation, of course, is not just a simple conversion between linguistic symbols, but an interpretation of one culture to another. Any translated original text is a cultural product in itself, and the translator is the carrier of another culture, and the process of interpreting the original text is actually a process of contact with another culture.

There is a close and inseparable link between translation and culture, a relationship that is rooted in the formation of human culture and accompanies the history of cultural exchange. From ancient times to the present, cross-cultural communication has always needed translation as a bridge.

Without translation, we would all be "blind" walking alone in the dark. A culture of pure self-sufficiency is on its way to extinction. Only through exchanges and mutual learning can civilization be full of vitality. One of the main reasons why China has a splendid culture of 5,000 years is that it can be integrated with a variety of foreign cultures.

In the propagation and development of religions, translation plays an important role. For example, during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Kumarosh made China have a systematic Mahayana doctrine through the practice of translation, opened up the integration of Chinese civilization and ancient Indian culture, and can be called the pioneer of mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations on the Silk Road.

Translation also plays a great role in the dissemination of Chinese culture to the outside world. In the field of scientific translation, after the Talas War of the Tang Dynasty, Chinese craftsmen transmitted many Chinese techniques, including gunpowder, to Dashi (ancient Arabia), and Europeans learned about the existence of gunpowder through the translation of Arab books. In the field of philosophical and social sciences and the translation of literary works, the translation of Chinese classics in Japan and Korea during the Sui and Tang dynasties flourished, nourishing the national culture of Japan and Korea, and became the cornerstone of the Yamato culture in Japan and Goryeo and Silla in Korea.

Philosophy and thought are a core part of a culture, and the exchange of ideas between different cultures requires translation to break down language barriers. Translation is essential for the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations, the innovation of ideas, the emergence of philosophical schools, and the creation of new disciplines. For example, since the end of the 19th century, China began to have a large number of famous scholars who translated Western philosophical classics, such as Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao. They have translated many Western philosophical classics into Chinese, bringing new ideological enlightenment to the Chinese philosophical community.

In the field of literature, through translation, a country's literary works, poems, dramas and artistic works can be introduced into other languages and cultures, forming a steady stream of literary nourishment and jointly promoting the prosperity and long-term development of literature. For example, a hundred years ago, Lin Shu and Wang Shouchang co-translated "The Remains of the Lady of the Camellias in Paris" was published in Fuzhou, and immediately caused a sensation throughout the country. They introduced Western literary models and literary concepts into China, which not only broadened the horizons of the Chinese people, but also injected new elements into China, which had far-reaching significance for the transition and transformation of Chinese literature.

In the field of film and television, through translation, films, TV series, ** and other entertainment works have also been disseminated around the world, we no longer focus on the present, the understanding of other cultural forms of entertainment, has greatly promoted the diversified development of film and television culture. In the last century, with the efforts of the older generation of film and television translators, a large number of excellent foreign films have been introduced to China, which not only allows Chinese audiences to have more cognition and imagination of the world, but also allows Chinese film and television to continue to develop in exchange and reference, laying a solid foundation for today's prosperity.

Translation also plays a vital role in the inheritance and innovation of our own culture. Through translation, ancient literary works, historical documents, traditional knowledge, etc., can be preserved and disseminated to new generations, maintaining cultural continuity. In the process of translation, traditional Chinese culture and modern culture can be better integrated, injecting new elements and vitality into Chinese culture.

In today's era of globalization, without translation, the development of culture will be subject to many barriers and restrictions. Translation is essential for the prosperity and long-term development of culture, as well as a bridge for cultural exchange and dissemination, as well as a promoter of cultural diversity and innovation.

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