论文总字数：28144字

摘 要

翻译在中国几千年文化中扮演着非常重要的角色，当前人们在生活中越来越多地用到“零翻译”词语，本文旨在分析“零翻译”现象给我们带来的文化冲击：一方面，“零翻译”现象会促进不同文化之间的交流；另一方面，它是某种程度的文化殖民。通过对“零翻译”现象的具体分析，文章指出，我们要用辩证的眼光看待文化传播与文化殖民两种后果，理性对待“零翻译”现象对我国文化产生的利弊。

关键词：零翻译；文化；影响；交流；殖民

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 2

2.1 The Definition of Zero Translation 3

2.2 The Functions of Zero Translation 3

3. The Cause of “Zero Translation” 4

3.1 Globalization 4

3.2 The improvement of Translation Levels 5

4. The Influence of “Zero Translation”on Culture 6

4.1 The Negative Influence of “Zero Translation” on Culture 6

4.2 The Positive Influence “Zero Translation” on Culture 8

5.Conclusion 9

Works Cited 12

1. Introduction

With the rapidly international exchanges of technology, people daily life, work, entertainment often encounter the following words, such as IT, GDP, CPI, APEC, CPU, DVD, WTO, MTV, TOFEL, GRE, MSN, IP, NBA, BBS, MP3, etc., these foreign words are directly used by people among the Chinese. We usually call this phenomenon “zero translation”. For “Zero Translation”, there is no authoritative definition. Although there is no specific definition on the “Zero Translation”, this concept has been recognized by everyone. These are also because of language differences, cultural differences and innovative source language vocabulary phenomenon. Undoubtedly, the “Zero Translated” words have been widely applied to people’s basic necessities, such as KFC, IP, BBS, MP3, MV, etc., which makes a certain impact on culture . On the one hand, some scholars believe that this is the language and culture evolution, and promoting Chinese and Western cultures. On the other hand, some people think “zero translation” is language pollution. “Zero Translation” has been widely recognized by Chinese. We should encourage or oppose it? I think we should use the dialectical thinking to treat and take it seriously.

Human society has entered the Internet age. A lot of the English original words enter the Internet, newspapers and books into the Chinese system in mass rapid spread of information needs. Thus, when people use the Chinese, they often see, hear, use some English original words, such as IT, GDP, CPI, APEC, DVD, WTO, TOEFL, BBS, MP3, Windows. Such people usually use English original words in China without any translation.

Different ways of thinking and living habits make different forms of expressions and nationalities. The language of the country has its own natural language style. For instance, the English and Chinese, they belong to two distinct languages, so they are different in the expression. For example, we can not find only one word in English ,like 兄，弟，姐，妹. In English,兄，弟all called brother. 姐，妹all called sister. It is difficult to distinguish“uncle”in Chinese because uncle may means 叔父，伯父，姑父，舅父，姨夫. In English, we have to distinguish between men and women according to a certain context when facing the word “cousin”. Chinese word “万” turns into the English language may become ten thousand (ten thousand). Someone tell you to go, you may replied “I am coming”, literally using the past tense. Chinese people used to ask the name of someone, it may absolute not translated “Please teach me your great name” but only translated “May I know (or ask or have) your name? Or what’s your name, please?” It is the difference between two different cultures. We can not change this phenomena because it is the culture that exists thousands years. In order to reduce the misunderstanding of the English original words, the “Zero Translation” emerge.Translation is widely used in Chinese words which is an indisputable reality. Zero translated words not only affect Chinese word formation and Chinese culture but also have a huge impact on the language and cultural policies of the country. It is meaningful and important to study Zero Translation.

Some sociologists believe that language is the crown of cultural stone --- there is no culture without language. On the other hand, language is influenced by culture and reflecting the culture. Because of different cultural backgrounds, the same word or the same kind of expression sometimes tend to have different meanings, but sometimes it may cause the phenomenon of semantic gap. For example, Liu Dongming (Liu Dongming, 2001: 24-27) in his book “Language and Culture” cited a story: Rome has a shoe store, the door hung a sign to attract English-speaking customers. The sign wrote: Shoes for street walking. Come in and have a fit , this brand caused many English-speaking tours’ attention, they gathered in front of the shop--- not saw the merchandise on display in the window, but looked words on the sign .They are all laughing after watching. The owner is Italian and speaks little English, but he did not know the “street walker” is not “the roots of the people” but “in the streets soliciting prostitutes”, to have a fit is not “try” but “rage”. Passer-by saw this brand certainly felt funny and ridiculous. This is a joke of not knowing the cultural difference or not knowing the deep meaning of the words. It is so important to learn more about culture and language.

2. Literature Review

Qiu Maoru (Qiu Maoru, 2001 (1): 24- 27) first proposed the “zero translation” concept in China; he believes that “zero translation” is “not translated”. But “Zero Translation” and “Translation” are two different concepts, “zero translation” is a special kind of translation which is different from the traditional translation strategies, and “not Translation” is not generated translation behavior.

2.1 The Definition of Zero Translation

In the era of globalization, the translation becomes an indispensable tool for communication. With the accelerating pace of globalization, people exchange and integrate in terms of language and culture, zero translation thus has born.

Professor Qiu Maoru in English Language Institute of Shanghai International Studies University in Chinese Translation in 2001, the first phase published Translatability and Zero Translation , from the theoretical and practical point of view, by the Chinese-English contrast, proposed in order to adapt to the need of rapid growth in the translation Practice, it is necessary to introduce the concept of zero translation. He is the first people to define the zero translation. He thinks that zero translation is the target language which is really used in the source language words without any translation (Qiu Maoru, 2001 (1): 24- 27). That is a language can be relatively precise expressed in another language.

The so-called zero translation is the words in the source language which is translated into the target language words without any needs of using the target language words. This contains two meanings, the first means that the source language words deliberately not translated, the second means using no ready-made words in the target language to translate the source language words.

2.2 The Functions of Zero Translation

Zero Translation makes our lives easy and convenient. For example, the basketball-lovers know NBA well; music-lovers know MV and car-lovers are also very familiar with the SUV. This fully shows that “Zero Translation” words are affecting people’s lives. Although SARFT trying to block out the foreign words, rather than “American professional basketball league” saying that more people still prefer saying “NBA”, because the latter is more economical, more in tune with contemporary fast-paced life. “Loanwords with the biosphere are also in line with natural selection, the law of survival of the fittest. Language change during the convention will overwhelm experts correctness ...... open, tolerant, eclectic attitude will bring prosperous situation. ”(Hu Gengshen, 2007: 173)

Mother tongue and culture are being marginalized, which in turn let people lose self-confidence. Over time, the mother tongue may gradually be replaced by foreign language, and ultimately death. Many scholars sum up the population of Zero Translation in four aspects: 1. World Science and Technology of economic globalization; 2.Highly developed networks and media; 3. Young people"s interest in chasing the new divergent taste; 4. The confidence of Chinese tolerance attitude, however, there are also the deeper root cause:  the popularity of zero translation is linked with the power of the country. In fact, the population of zero translated words is also related to a lot of lazy editing translator. Results supervision and other factors caused a variety of factors. Chinese language features and the formation of Chinese culture are included and replaced by English or even change their intention in order to succumb Zero translation. To some extent, this is actually a self-armed solution, conniving English text on the implementation of aggression on Chinese and encourage cultural hegemony of English.

3. The Cause of“Zero Translation”

3.1 Globalization

Under the background of globalization and network, a large number of zero translation words rise into Chinese, and zero translated words has been widely used. How to absorb the zero translated words? How to regulate people to use zero translation word? These become imminent problems. Many natives said zero translation is the result of social choice. Language compatible with each other is a kind of trend under the background of globalization. So we need to be concerned about diversity and heterogeneity of language and culture resistance and take the appropriate attitudes and policies.

Globalization makes culture change more convenient and frequent. Translation is a tool for communication, more and more communication will take place with the rapid change of culture. Today, people use “Zero Translation” to face-to-face communicates, it saves much more time and money for communicators from all around the world. So globalization promotes “Zero Translation”.

Vast amounts of information exchange in various fields require an efficient mean of communication. For this purpose, the application of zero translation has the important practical significance. For some order of carrying large amounts of information professionals such as terms and acronyms, using zero-translation can save time and effort. It can greatly make communication more efficient. For example, Dink, directly translated as Ding Ke although in the initial use which may need to add the explanation, but once the use is open, its expression is simple and efficient. Now, it has been widely used before the various Chinese media.

With the deepening of globalization, people are no longer confined to the scope of the exchange in some general subjects. Professional information exchange is more and more widely used and the developments of subjects also produce some new professional information, vocabulary. This new vocabulary in the target language is sometimes hard to find equal words. In this case, zero translation is an effective strategy to some difficult and common words which can be widely accepted by most of people.

With the accelerating process of globalization, cultural development and exchange of time and space is completely broken, and people involved in cultural exchange are more widely. Therefore, people have a certain degree of understanding and acceptance of different languages and cultures, such as the hug kiss after meeting Westerners which may be hardly understood by some people for a long time, but now with the awareness and acceptance of exotic culture, most of custom and behavior can be accepted. Today, different cultural customs and behaviors are learned among students, they have developed a sense of respecting foreigners. We are in a big world, we are a big family, and respecting each other is the way we live.

3.2 The Improvement of Translation Levels

In order to adapt to the new situation, foreign language education in our schools at all levels gradually open and gain popularity. Foreign language teaching has made remarkable achievements in most of countries. Many cities have taken appropriate promotion in schools such as double measures language teaching, some families use foreign language to communicate with family members at home, watch foreign movies at weekends, and some students may learn foreign language from television and radio by themselves. All of these measures and achievements promote the increase of readers’ translation level.

4. The Influence of“Zero Translation”on Culture

One of the biggest features of Chinese culture is its wide capacitive, tolerance so that it can accommodate all the foreign culture and a considerable number of foreign words through the ages. However, the foreign words is not in original form into the Chinese national language, it must reinvent after conversion code words to the capacity of Chinese vocabulary satisfied. Turning to the New Culture Movement for the vernacular of Europeanization when affected. Europeanization is not humanly possible trend barrier; however, Western grammar and syntax are different with China, or China can barely accommodate.

4.1 The Negative Influence of “Zero Translation” on Culture

Zero translated words are more used to translate the terminology. Different translators can choose different homophones because the pronunciations of the original words are same, so the same original words may cause different translation. Zero translated words make a lot of fuzzy associative semantic, thus increasing the zero translation confusion and ambiguity in Chinese especially the use of standardized terminology technology. It is necessary to measure the normal development of Chinese language usage.

Due to the difference in Chinese and English, the Chinese translation words can not fully convey the cultural values contained in the English source words. Such as SHOW, in English Language and Culture, it is the expression of personal values respect. However, there are huge cultural differences in Chinese Culture. In modern Chinese, the expression is not entirely original meaning. It usually links to people often make jokes and deceive. The cultural attitudes’ heart is not able to enter the Chinese culture, but to some extent, been distorted to the development of Chinese culture. It also causes a certain degree of loss because we wishfully absorb “Zero Translation” into the Chinese language culture, but change its original meaning, lose its essence, so that the Chinese culture miss the opportunity to absorb the cultural heterogeneity.

Language and culture are inseparable. Susan Bassnett (Susan Bassnett, 2004) also did a metaphor, the culture than to a human body, the language than heart. On the translation of the term “zero translation”, the information can be totally expressed in another culture and language tables. However, if the “Zero Translation” is used a lot, it could promote the target language culture and the occurrence of various polymerization fission reactions, causing it change in the root.(Liao Qiyi, 2004: 381). As previously mentioned, a large number of “zero translation” pour into our vocabulary, its drawbacks are gradually revealed. Some English words are directly used in China, such as KFC, IP, BBS, MP3, DVD, etc. Over time, the Chinese hieroglyphs may be combined with the alphabet, the evolution to another new language, is it not a language and culture on the “Peaceful evolution”? English has become the world’s biggest language, mainly superpower by the British Empire in 17-19 century and the United States in the 20th century. The Chinese language has a long history and marginalized. In the current cross-cultural communication, we can find many people touted Western values. This is partly due to their disadvantage, while on the other hand, because they have no confidence about their own culture. “Mother tongue and culture are being marginalized, which in turn speed up losing self-confidence among people”(Li Shaohua, 2006: 189). For the long time, Chinese language may be gradually replaced by foreign language, and finally die. Some experts think that although the West did not make China fully become a colony of the West over the past century in politics, the military and the economy, but “China, in the process of learning from the West., completely changed their culture”. (Xia Baochengamp;Liu Fengxian, 2008: 88), China is becoming a colony of Western culture. Hong Kong Lingnan University scholar Leo Tak-hung Chan ( Leo Tak-hung Chan, 1989), commented: “In China, there is no real sense of the colonial territories, but since the Opium War, Chinese people have been experiencing a cultural and linguistic colonization.” So this kind of so-called cross-cultural communication is a certain degree of cultural colonization.

Chinese is the cornerstone, carrier and the gene of the Chinese culture, relating to cultural identity, national identity. If there is no properly policy of the language and culture, the entire nation will take “no resistance” even willing to accept zero translation. Then the officer party documents, the mainstream media will increasingly use the zero-word translation, even more, the zero translation flooding will spread the word. With time going by, a new generation of young people may be more steeped in English mixed contexts, slowly prefer English and Chinese contempt. Several years later, Chinese will no longer be “Chinese”, but become Chinese and a mixture of English, and may even become the leading language which mixed by English. If the Chinese were mixed with English or Chinese and English fit the alternative, it would be a sad nation. This is a problem we should cause serious concern.

4.2 The Positive Influence of “Zero Translation” on Culture

With increasing usage of foreign language, there are more and more foreign languages which used directly. Zero translated words can be used easily, it makes our communication convenient.

For example, Oxford University Press published “Oxford Dictionary of New Words,” (Pearsall Judy,1998) a collection of the 20th century English neologism of the 1980s to the 1990s .It included more than 2,000 Chinese words without exception. Commercial Press published the newly revised “Xinhua Dictionary”, it is also a new addition of new emerging, multi-disciplinary basic vocabulary trendy, novel characteristic of the time and with daily living close to 10,000 words. The recent emergence of new words in English have Clintonism, Zipgate, Euro, outplacement, dinomania, multimedia, hacker, virtual reality, drug abuse, mad cow disease, ge2netic engineering, bungee jumping ,etc. The new words in the Chinese Language are “Chinese characteristics, the first document, well-off, two systems, sea, seafood, weight loss, diversion, laid off, tax reform, asset restructuring, and regression”(Xiao Yaotian, 2004: 114-116). These new words in the source language are newly created. In the target language, it is naturally difficult to find ready-to-peer word in translation. So we inevitably have to adopt the technique of “Zero Translation” to face the rapid change of the language using.

We may easily understand the meaning of the source words when facing the words without any form of translation. It is said some words have been accepted such as “iphone”、“KFC” and so on . So we don’t need to use some words in target words to translate the words in source language. It is more convenient to use zero translation.

Mr. Ji Xianlin (Ji Xianlin, 1995(6)) cited an example of the role of translation on culture in China: “If you take the river as an example, the Chinese culture is a river, the water may be full, and there may be less water, but never exhausted. The reason is that there is a new water injection. It may be large and small for a lot of times, and there are two biggest times. One is from India water, another is from the West water. And these two big turns rely on injection translation. Chinese culture has been able to remain young, the panacea is translation.”

If some “Zero Translation” words in the masses have been widely used, these words can be retained. At the same time, the cultural experts should be as a cultural propaganda wizard. In addition, in the study and practice of translation, professionals must focus on training their own cultural enrichment. We must first be proficient in fine broad deep in Chinese language and culture, and then have a choice in translation in the boycott cultural colonialism. We should also do the promotion of cultural exchange.

The high cultural translation tide in 20th century, strengthen cultural awareness in the field of translation practice. Chinese traditional culture absorb advanced foreign cultures that gave birth to a new culture of transport move, and created a new better culture, improved discipline system, and promoted the development of modern Chinese. Translated works from the United States and Japan significantly increased at the end of 20th century which covers science, technology, market economics and business management, etc. It not only introduces advanced experience of developed countries, but also the corresponding band to an open multicultural structure, strengthen the country to “enrich” as mainstream social ideology.

5.Conclusion

In fact, there is no certain definition of good or bad of culture. We study the similarities and differences of different cultures by national cultural translation, the purpose is to better understand and fit the big family of world culture, learn to treat the things from the micro perspective point of view and establish the idea of cross-cultural communication.

Language is the most fundamental ties to maintain a nation. It is the most typical sign of national cultural identity. As long as there are ethnic and national feelings, language problems will not disappear. “When a nation faces to the world, the national consciousness of both languages may be desalinated, there may be strengthened.”(Luo Guoqing, 2005: 88-91) Therefore, their national consciousness is weakened or strengthened, not one or two people can decide, but an overall sense.

Word is embodied in the form of one of the national culture, Chinese is the most intuitive and cultural symbol of Chinese people. Therefore, we should develop appropriate language cultural policy statement. On the one hand, we should prevent the zero word aptly translated into Chinese. On the other hand, we must resolutely oppose the spread of this phenomenon and take preventive measures. Needless to say, language and cultural policy of zero caused translated words. Only comprehensive considerate the positive and moderate language and cultural policies, can we receive technological development.

There are missing items and gaps between different languages and cultures. Nowadays, English is in an absolutely strong position, a lot of new words in Chinese will cause missing items and blank. Apparently zero translated words can easily make up for the easiest different cultures missing items and gaps between different cultures. Zero translated words contain the source of all meaning language. It may be the most accurate translation. However, on the other hand, zero translated words are subtly eroding the national language and culture.

Language is one of the forms in the national culture. Chinese culture is the most visible symbol of the Chinese nation. Therefore, we should develop the appropriate language and cultural policy. One hand, making zero translation words properly gets into Chinese to rich the Chinese vocabulary. On the other hand, opposing this phenomenon spread. Only considering zero translated words" effect on Chinese specification development, prosperity heterogeneous cultural communication, as well as the ability to identify and accept the rapid development of science and technology and other aspects of comprehensive consideration can develop a positive and moderate language and cultural policy.

Whether “Zero Translation” is to promote the exchange and dissemination of culture, or cause a cultural colonization, it gives us a big shock about the language and culture. In this case, in order to rich Chinese expression and not let these foreign words on the Chinese cause “aggression”, we should have a clear attitude towards zero translation. On the one hand, reasonably use zero translation. Translation can not only comply with the original meaning, but also has good readability in the target language. The use of zero translation is not the lack of variability of Chinese language. It is only to comply with the language usage and economic principles.

If some “Zero Translation” words have been widely used in the masses, then these words can be retained. Meanwhile, the domestic language and cultural experts as authoritative cultural propaganda wizard can strengthen and promote the Chinese language and cultural connotations, thus avoiding losing our own culture. In addition, professionals should pay attention to cultivate their cultural accomplishment in the study and practice of translation. Firstly, professionals should be proficient in the language of our profound Chinese culture, and then have a choice in resisting cultural colonialism in translation. At the same time, we should promote cultural communication.

Works Cited

[1] Leo Tak-hung Chan. Chinese Translation Theory.Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.1989.

[2] Pearsall Judy. The New Oxford Dictionary of English.Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

[3] Susan Bassnett. Sylvia Plath. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2004.

[4] 胡庚申. 翻译与跨文化交流：转向与拓展——首届海峡两岸翻译与跨文化交流研讨会论. 上海：

上海外语教育出版社，2007：173.

[5] 季羡林.《中国翻译词典》. 中国翻译，1995（6）.

[6] 李少华. 《英语全球化与本土视野中的中国英语》. 银川：宁夏人民出版社，2006：189.

[7] 廖七一. 《当代英国翻译理论》. 武汉：湖北教育出版社，2004: 381.

[8] 罗国青. 《零翻译概念辩正》.上海翻译,2005 (85): 88- 91

[9] 邱懋如. 《可译性及零翻译》.中国翻译,2001 (1): 24- 27.

[10] 夏保成amp;刘凤仙. 《国家安全论》. 长春：长春出版社，2008：88.

[11] 肖耀田. 《零翻译———不可或缺的翻译手段之一》.邵阳学院学报:社会科学版,2004: 114-116.

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