重庆大学硕士学位论文

从多元系统理论看

1900-1919

年

科幻翻译对中国的影响

硕士研究生：邓

健

指 导 教 师 ：徐铁城

教

授

学科、专业：外国语言学及应用语言学

重庆大学外国语学院

二

OO

七年四月

MA Dissertation of Chongqing University

An Exploration of the Influences of Science

Fiction Translation (1900-1919) on China

From the Perspective of Polysystem Theory

M.A. Candidate: Deng Jian

Supervisor: Prof. Xu Tiecheng

Major: Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

College of Foreign Languages

Chongqing University

April 2007

I

摘

要

从第一本公认的科幻小说在中国的诞生，中国科幻已经走过了它一百年的历

史。随着近几年各种科幻研究会议的召开，不少研究者也开始把他们的注意力转

向这个领域，涉及中国科幻发展的历史，科幻小说定义的界定，科幻小说翻译及

其社会影响等，甚至把科幻作为一门科目纳入大学的课程。科幻研究涉及的范围

十分广泛，且研究成果颇为丰富，给其他的研究者提供了很好的参考资料。本文

在前人研究的基础上，把翻译学和科幻史的研究结合起来，以多元系统理论来对

中国

1900

年到

1919

年的翻译科幻文学的繁荣进行一个动态的、历史的描述。

在具体的描述中，本文首先对于翻译科幻文学的繁荣现象进行了一个量的描

述。其次，结合多元系统理论，本文把翻译科幻文学置于了中国的文学多元系统

中，并由此展示了翻译科幻文学在中国的文学系统中从边缘靠近中心、从非经典

化靠近经典化、从一级模式转变为二级模式的过程。同时，以多元系统理论为平

台，本文在科学描述该时期科幻翻译文学的基础上，进一步分析了造成该繁荣的

原因，并借助

“

大多元系统

”

理论对该繁荣给中国带来的影响进行了探讨。本文发现，

多种因素的共同作用造成了科幻翻译文学的繁荣，对当时中国社会的进步起到了

一定的积极作用，其历史功绩不可忽视。

以这样的认识为基础，本文最后对科幻翻译文学在中国的发生，发展及至衰

落进行了一个整体的梳理，并对衰落的原因进行了分析和探讨。本文认为中国的

科幻翻译还有不少的发展空间，在未来中国与世界文化交流的过程中，它还将扮

演一个不可缺少的角色。

关键词：科幻小说，科幻翻译繁荣，多元系统论

II

Abstract

Since the publication of the first science fiction translation in China, Chinese

science fiction has experienced its 100 years’ development. Along with a series of

symposiums held on science fiction in recent years, more and more researchers began to

turn their attention to this field. The science fiction research covers a very wide range,

from the history of science fiction’s development, the definition of science fiction to the

assessment of its impact on society etc and now it is incorporated as an independent

subject in the curricula of the university. The researches are really fruitful, and provide

valuable findings for the other researchers. Based upon what the researchers have got in

their research, this dissertation intends to make a historical and dynamic description of

the boom of translated science fiction in China from 1900 to the 1919 from the

perspective of the Polysystem Theory.

In the process of the description, this dissertation first describes the boom from the

perspective quantitatively. Secondly, it places China’s translated science fiction in the

polysystem of China’s literature in that period. Therefore, the boom can be understood

as a process in which China’s translated science fiction approached the center from the

periphery, became canonized to some degree from non-canonicity, and began to shift to

the secondary mode of literary creation within the polysystem of China’s literature.

Thirdly, this dissertation explores the reasons for the boom in the light of polysystem

theory. Then, within the framework of “meta-polysystem”, it discusses the effects this

boom brought to China and elaborates its historical significance in the development of

China.

To conclude, through the discussion of the developing process of science fiction in

China and the proper reasons behind its boom as well as its decline, the paper points out

that the boom of science fiction translation resulted from a combination of multiple

forces (literary, political and cultural) of that period, and it yielded positive effects on

the development of Chinese society on the whole. With regard to the future

development of science fiction in China, the author holds that there are good prospects

for the translation of science fiction and its role in the cultural exchanges between China

and the outside world should not be belittled.

Key words: science fiction, the boom of science fiction translation, Polysystem Theory

III

TABLE OF CONTENTS

摘 要

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION ........................................... 1

1.1 A B

RIEF

R

EVIEW OF

S

CIENCE

F

ICTION

’

S

H

ISTORY

........................... 1

1.2 T

HE

H

ISTORY OF

S

CIENCE

F

ICTION

T

RANSLATION IN

C

HINA

...................... 2

1.3 T

HE

R

ELATED

S

TUDIES IN THIS

F

IELD

.................................... 2

1.4 T

HE

S

IGNIFICANCE AND

M

ETHODS OF THIS

R

ESEARCH

........................... 3

CHAPTER TWO POLYSYSTEM THEORY ...................................... 5

2.1 T

RADITIONAL

T

RANSLATION

S

TUDIES

...................................... 5

2.2 N

EW

R

ESEARCH

P

ERSPECTIVES

........................................... 6

2.3 P

OLYSTSTEM

T

HEORY

................................................. 7

2.3.1 The Origins of the Polysystem .............................. 8

2.3.2 The Connotation of Polysystem Theory ....................... 8

2.3.3 The Main Issues and Concepts of Polysystem Theory ......... 10

2.4 S

UMMARY

........................................................ 13

CHAPTER THREE SCIENCE FICTION TRANSLATION(1900-1919) IN CHINA ..... 14

3.1 T

HE

D

EFINITION OF

S

CIENCE

F

ICTION

................................... 14

3.2 S

CIENCE

F

ICTION

T

RANSLATION

(1900-1919)

IN

C

HINA

..................... 15

3.2.1 The Arguments for the Defining of the Period .............. 15

3.2.2 The Boom of the Science Fiction Translation from 1900-1919 16

IV

3.2.3 Influences of Translated Science Fiction on Chinese Native

Literature and Society .......................................... 18

3.3 S

UMMARY

........................................................ 23

CHAPTER FOUR A POLYSYSTEMIC ANALYSIS OF THE BOOM .................. 24

4.1 A P

OLYSYSTEMIC

D

ESCRIPTION OF

T

RANSLATED

S

CIENCE

F

ICTION

’

S

B

OOM IN

C

HINA IN THE

D

EFINED

P

ERIOD

....................................................... 24

4.1.1 The Process from Periphery to Center ...................... 24

4.1.2 The Process from Non-Canonized Literary form to Canonized

Literary form ................................................... 25

4.1.3 The Process from Primary to Secondary ..................... 26

4.2 A P

OLYSYSTEMIC

A

NALYSIS OF THE

C

AUSES OF THE

B

OOM AND THE

E

FFECTS ON

C

HINESE

S

OCIETY

.................................................................. 28

4.2.1 The Causes of Translated Science Fiction’s Dynamic Activity

................................................................ 28

4.2.2 The Interaction between Translated Science Fiction and Society.

................................................................ 29

4.3 S

UMMARY

........................................................ 33

CHAPTER FIVE THE HISTORICAL FUNCTION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF TRANSLATED

SCIENCE FICTION AND AN ASSESSMENT TOWARDS ITS DEVELOPMENT .......... 35

5.1 T

HE

H

ISTORICAL

F

UNCTION AND

S

IGNIFICANCE OF

T

RANSLATED

S

CIENCE

F

ICTION

..... 35

5.1.1 Its Role as the Instrument in Social Reform ............... 35

5.1.2 Its Role as a Medium to Popularize Science and Technology . 36

V

5.1.3 Its Influence on the Creation of Our Native Science Fiction36

5.2 A

N

A

SSESSMENT ON THE

D

ECLINE OF

T

RANSLATED

S

CIENCE

F

ICTION

............... 37

5.2.1 The Translation Methods Used by the Translators ........... 38

5.2.2 The Reader Factor ......................................... 38

5.2.3 The Change of the Connotation of “Science” in New Culture

Movement ........................................................ 39

5.3 S

UMMARY

........................................................ 39

CHAPTER SIX CONCLUSION ............................................ 41

NOTES .............................................................. 43

1

Chapter One Introduction

Science fiction has on one occasion been the focus in the literature field in China.

However, when people put so much energy the debating of the advantage and

disadvantage of this type of literature itself, they all ignored the other important factor

which has the very close relation with the development of science fiction——science

fiction translation. As we all know, the translation itself has experienced not a short

history since there was cultural communication between countries. Until now, the

studies and researches concerning translation have made great achievements today. And

“Translatology” has been widely recognized as a kind of independent research. If we

take translation as a big family, science fiction translation is obviously a necessary

member in it. Since translation itself is multi-lingual and highly comprehensive

involving knowledge from various branches of science, science fiction translation is

even more closely related with the knowledge from various branches of science.

Therefore, if we want to make an analysis of the development of science fiction, science

fiction translation would constitute a very important part of the scientific investigation.

1.1 A Brief Review of Science Fiction’s History

It is gradually accepted that “Frankenstein” by Mary W.G. Shelly(1797-1851) was

the first science fiction in the world. Shortly after, a serial of famous science fiction

writers such as Bulwer-Lytton, Robert Stevenson, Le Fanu, Jules Verne and Herbert

Wells created a great number of splendid works. However, long before the appearance

of “Frankenstein”, China had its own science fiction. The origin of China’s science

fiction can be traced back to Zhou Dynasty. “The Robot made by Yan Shi”(

《偃师造

人》

)has been admittedly considered as the earliest and typical one in the development

of China’s science fiction. Following that, from “A Case of Heart Operation by Bian

Que”(

《扁鹊换心》

) in Lie Zi·Tang Wen(

《列子

·

汤问》

), “Mechanical Wooden

Horse”(

《机器木马》

) in History of Nan Period·Record of Qi State (

《南史

·

齐本纪》

),

“Zhong Kui Catching Mouse”(

《钟馗捉鼠》

) in Dream Stream Essays (

《梦溪笔谈》

)

to the “wood bird ” in Huainan Zi

《淮南子》

and Individual Record in Tai Ping Period

(

《太平个记》

)

1

, science fiction has made it mark in the literary history of China.

However, the traditional social system and the culture closely related with the

production agriculture posed a great obstacle on the way of science fiction’s

2

development, the abundant culture in the past thousand years didn’t leave us with

enough science fiction works.

1.2 The History of Science Fiction Translation in China

Compared with the long history of science fiction’s creation, the history of science

fiction translation is only 100 years. The translation history of science fiction is

gradually held to start from the late period of Qing Dynasty. According to the historical

records, the famous science fiction writer Jules Verne’s work, 80 Days around the World

translated by Chen Shoupeng(

陈寿彭

), noted by Xue Shaowei(

薛绍徽

) in 1900 was

recognized as the first translation version in China.

2

And their second and third

versions were published in 1906. This translation event was the prelude of science

fiction translation in china.

1.3 The Related Studies in this Field

Actually speaking, in the 1990s, there appeared a quite attractive theme in the

domain of Chinese science fiction, that is, to focus more on the history of Chinese

science fiction. A group of authors began to be preoccupied with the old legends which

contain the factors of science fiction. Besides, in the academic circle, the studies on the

ancient science fiction in China have gradually expanded a powerful stream. In The

Series of Chinese Classical Elite Fictions (

《中国古典精华丛书》

)

，

quite a few science

fictions are collected

。

In 1997 The Volume of Chinese Ancient Science Fiction (

《中国

古代科幻故事集》

) was packed up with the ancient science fictions. At the same time,

the monographs about the science fiction in varied periods also came forth. Among

them, The Fiction Series from Late Period of Qing Dynasty to the Initial Stages of

Republic of China——Science Volume (

《清末民初小说书系

·

科学卷》

) is the most

important one. The data of science fiction history come to a large quality.

In fact, both China and the western countries enjoy a considerably long history of

science fiction. However, the research of science fiction began only from the recent ages.

The research of science fiction in western countries began in the 19

th

century. China’s

research history was even shorter. It started just at the dawn of the 20

th

century. Since

1978, with the convening of the National Science Conference, people have begun to

attach more importance to science fiction. In the big field of science fiction, the research

and researchers appeared like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. Ye Yonglie

，

Guo

Jianzhong

，

Wu Yan

，

Wang Fengzhen etc are all the outstanding scholars in this field. In

Beijin Normal University, even a new MA course about the research of science fiction

3

was started. Those years saw a boom of the science fiction research. However, just

because the science fiction is a member of the big family of literature, the research on it

is generally put the research field of literary translation. The focus of it is often on

its own characteristics, such as its conception, its exact differences between versions

and its schools etc. The study of vocabulary, sentence, and discourse still accounts for

the main body of researches on science fiction translation. Only very few researchers

pay attention to the combination between science fiction translation and science fiction

itself. Thus, it has become an urgent need to examine science fiction translation from a

new perspective in the translation research field. Just as Professor Guo Jianzhong

(2004), a famous translation researcher, stated in the preface of his monograph Studies

of Sci-tech Translation:

if we just repeat the general translation theories and methods (such as translation

standards, translation process and translation skills etc) like other translation works, the

book will be no better than another trite summary of general translation theories on the

bookshelves of the bookstore, … so if we want to create new valuable information for

readers, we need to start from a new perspective.

3

(P

ⅹⅶ

)

1.4 The Significance and Methods of this Research

Professor Guo’s suggestion aroused the inspiration from which this dissertation

springs. According to what have been stated before, the focus of traditional translation

researches was always on the detailed relationship between SL and TL

4

till the

appearance of polysytem theory. The birth of polysytem theory has ushered a new

perspective to the translation study field, which emphasizes the relationship between the

factors and components that constitute the environment in the broad sense which

the literary translation has been placed. Thus, besides the detailed analysis between the

characteristics of SL and TL, more factors were added the translation study field.

Cultural background and social functions of literary translation have gradually become

the fierce debating focus of translation studies.

Here, based on the previous studies in the translation field and polysytem theory,

my research aims to have a discussion of the science fiction’s development in

1900-1919. The significance of my study lies primarily in the detailed description of the

translation boom of science fiction in the period of 1900-1919. Secondly, compared

with the boom phenomenon in that period, its social effects have been rarely addressed

4

by the scholars in our history of translation. Here, my research would try to provide

some valuable information in this field. Finally yet importantly, based upon the

Polysystem Theory, this dissertation will list out the new viewpoints on the very boom

of translated science fiction literature and come up with its own conclusion from the

new perspective of social influence. Meanwhile, with its emphasis upon the social

function of science fiction, this dissertation wants to arouse people’s interest in

introducing our own splendid science fiction to the world.

Including this chapter, this dissertation is composed of six chapters in all.

Chapter Two would make a complete description of the most remarkable academic

achievements of the newly rising school—Polysystem Theory. The main contents and

principles of this theory would be elaborated in this chapter.

When there is the theoretical preparation, there should be the exact materials and

facts for analysis. So the definition of science fiction should be the basic content in

chapter Three. Besides, this chapter will provide a clear picture of the translated works

of science fiction during this period and illustrate the relationship between science

fiction and its effects on society. The science fiction’ effects on the society and culture

would be the focus in this chapter.

With the solid theoretical supporting and the well sorted-out materials, chapter

Four will begin the polysystemic analysis of the causes and effects science fiction

brought. The questions about “why did this boom occur?” and “how it would bring so

much influence on the society and culture?” would be answered.

Then in Chapter Five, the author will give an account of the historical function and

significance of translated science fiction. Also the expectation of the bright future for

the development of the translated science fiction would be expressed in this chapter.

Chapter Six is to draw a conclusion of the whole paper, re-stressing the arguments,

summarizing the theoretical achievements and in particular, indicating the problems that

remain unsolved or ambiguously answered so as to pave the way for further studies in

this regard. Besides, the future prospect of this research in China will be envisaged in

this chapter.

5

Chapter Two Polysystem Theory

As we all know, since the appearance of the translation activities, the behavior of

deciphering the denotation of translation won’t come to the end. “Over some two

thousand years of argument and precept, the beliefs and disagreements voiced over the

nature of translation have been almost the same. Identical themes, familiar moves and

refutations in debate recur, nearly without exception, from Cicero and Quintilian to the

present day” (Steiner, 1975, p239, qtd in Niranjana, 1992, p50). Gradually, the debating

and exploration became the academic research——translation study. By now, with the

continuous publication of research papers, frequent convening of academic conferences

and the birth of new theories, the realm of translation studies has absorbed great

nourishment from the scholars of different schools and has grown one that

wields

worldwide influence in the modern academic circle.

2.1 Traditional Translation Studies

We have witnessed the boom of the translation study, and the fact of its free

development of different forms and styles really make us more exciting. However,


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