This book provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary analysis of the translation history of ancient Chinese legal classics and modern laws and regulations, aiming to build a theoretical framework for study and practices of legal translation in the New Era and promote legal culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 119 pages
Publication date: 14 January 2024
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

The translation history of ancient Chinese legal classics and modern laws and regulations is explored in this book, providing a comprehensive picture of the development of Chinese legal translation. Legal translation in China has faced challenges and lacked a systematic theoretical framework in the past. This book aims to establish a theoretical framework for studying and practicing legal translation in the New Era, guided by the language planning theory. It aims to provide a practical guide for general readers, students of relevant majors, and professionals interested in Chinese legal culture to gain a renewed understanding of legal translation and legal culture promotion.

Introduction

Legal translation in China has undergone twists and turns in the past and always lacked a systematic and comprehensive theoretical framework. Therefore,guided by the language planning theory,this book intends to build a theoretical framework for study and practices of legal translation in the New Era and provide a feasible path for general readers,students of relevant majors,and professionals interested in Chinese legal culture to get a refreshed understanding legal translation and legal culture promotion.

The Translation History of Ancient Chinese Legal Classics

The translation history of ancient Chinese legal classics is a long and complex one, dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE). During this period, the Chinese legal system was still in its infancy, and the translation of legal texts was primarily done by scholars and officials. The translation of legal texts was often done in a literal manner, with little attention paid to the cultural and linguistic nuances of the original text. This led to many misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the law, which had negative consequences for the Chinese legal system.

In the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), the translation of legal texts became more sophisticated. Scholars began to pay more attention to the cultural and linguistic nuances of the original text, and they started to use more idiomatic and colloquial expressions to convey the meaning of the law. This led to a more accurate and effective translation of legal texts, which helped to improve the Chinese legal system.

In the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), the translation of legal texts reached its peak. Scholars and officials began to translate legal texts from various languages, including Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic, into Chinese. This led to the development of a rich and diverse legal culture in China, which was characterized by a blend of Chinese and foreign legal traditions.

However, the translation of legal texts also faced challenges in the Tang Dynasty. The Chinese language was undergoing significant changes, and many new words and expressions were being introduced. This led to difficulties in translating legal texts, and some of the translations were not accurate.

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), the translation of legal texts continued to develop. Scholars and officials began to use more modern and scientific methods to translate legal texts, such as machine translation and computer-assisted translation. This led to a more efficient and accurate translation of legal texts, which helped to improve the Chinese legal system.

In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 CE), the translation of legal texts faced significant challenges. The Chinese language was undergoing significant changes, and many new words and expressions were being introduced. This led to difficulties in translating legal texts, and some of the translations were not accurate.

In the modern era, the translation of legal texts has become more important than ever before. With the increasing globalization of the world, more and more legal texts are being translated into Chinese. This has led to the development of a large and diverse legal culture in China, which is characterized by a blend of Chinese and foreign legal traditions.

The Translation History of Modern Laws and Regulations

The translation history of modern laws and regulations in China is a relatively recent one, dating back to the late 19th century. During this period, the Chinese legal system was undergoing significant reforms, and the translation of legal texts was becoming more important. The translation of legal texts was often done by government agencies and private companies, and it was often done in a literal manner, with little attention paid to the cultural and linguistic nuances of the original text.

In the early 20th century, the translation of legal texts became more sophisticated. Scholars and officials began to pay more attention to the cultural and linguistic nuances of the original text, and they started to use more idiomatic and colloquial expressions to convey the meaning of the law. This led to a more accurate and effective translation of legal texts, which helped to improve the Chinese legal system.

In the late 20th century, the translation of legal texts reached its peak. Scholars and officials began to translate legal texts from various languages, including English, French, and German, into Chinese. This led to the development of a rich and diverse legal culture in China, which was characterized by a blend of Chinese and foreign legal traditions.

However, the translation of legal texts also faced challenges in the late 20th century. The Chinese language was undergoing significant changes, and many new words and expressions were being introduced. This led to difficulties in translating legal texts, and some of the translations were not accurate.

In the early 2000s, the translation of legal texts began to focus on the promotion of legal culture. Scholars and officials began to use more modern and scientific methods to translate legal texts, such as machine translation and computer-assisted translation. This led to a more efficient and accurate translation of legal texts, which helped to improve the Chinese legal system.

In the modern era, the translation of legal texts has become more important than ever before. With the increasing globalization of the world, more and more legal texts are being translated into Chinese. This has led to the development of a large and diverse legal culture in China, which is characterized by a blend of Chinese and foreign legal traditions.

Conclusion

Legal translation in China has undergone twists and turns in the past and always lacked a systematic and comprehensive theoretical framework. However, guided by the language planning theory,this book intends to build a theoretical framework for study and practices of legal translation in the New Era and provide a feasible path for general readers,students of relevant majors,and professionals interested in Chinese legal culture to get a refreshed understanding legal translation and legal culture promotion. By making a comprehensive and interdisciplinary analysis on the translation history of both the ancient Chinese legal classics and the modern laws and regulations,this book presents a full picture of development of Chinese legal translation.

Weight: 213g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811984501
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023