A Polysystem Perspective in C-E Translation for Global Communication

Abstract

While polysystem theory is widely applied to literary translation research,there is a lack of observation on C-E translation for global communication(C-E TGC) from the perspective of polysystem. On one hand, the cultural attributes of polysystem theory make it applicable to the analysis of all cultural phenomena. C-E TGC, a translating activity aiming at cultural communication, is no exception. On the other hand, the polysystem theory is particularly suitable to be adopted in the study of C-E TGC, for the translation subsystem, with its task of constructing discourse system and national image, inevitably overlaps and conflicts with other cultural sub-systems. Only when placing it under a multidimensional and dynamic framework can we see clearly the features of C-E TGC. However, the simplistic and abstract tendency of the polysystem theory also implies that it needs to be further refined and expanded in the study of specific issues, especially in the study of C-E TGC, which should incorporate the source language cultural system into the study.