Abstract:

The present paper attempts to provide a systematic reflection upon the holism and reductionism observed in translation practices, and based on Hu Gengshen’s idea about keeping textual life alive through “transplanting”, a supplementary remark is made in the present paper. It has been found that eco translation can be taken as a normal discipline, eco tranlatology, on the condition that the four essential paradigmatic elements are identified clearly and logically. As for the metaphysical part, it is generalized that translation is a bilingual practice of mutual borrowing, mutual understanding, mutual exemplifying, mutual gaining and mutual existing, in tune with which any inter translation between two languages must be regarded as interaction between two kinds of life form. That is, to translate a language is to translate a form of life. As for the symbolic generalization, translators are supposed to seek five kinds of balance in the process of translation practice in converting the source form of life into the target form of life. As for the value to be honored in eco translation, translators are supposed to seek a balance between holism and reductionism, and supposed to adapt translation to the five principles in tune with the five kinds of balance. As for the exemplar, a typical instance is any instance of translation capable of indicating the five kinds of balance and five principles. In a nutshell, eco translatology exists as a normal discipline on the condition that the five balances and five principles are observed in practice.