Abstract:

The Late Qing Dynasty is a unique historical period, where the mission of translation endows translators with distinctive characteristics of the time. Chinese translators actively translated Western sci-tech classics, expressing new ideas to enlighten the people and also promoting the transformation of Chinese translation practice. This study takes the sci-tech translators of the Late Qing period as the object of investigation to explore their national consciousness in the sci-tech translation. During this era, sci-tech translators, like Li Shanlan, resolutely assumed the responsibility and mission of translating Western sci-tech classics together with western missionaries. In terms of translation purposes, they aimed to introduce advanced Western science and technology through translation to achieve self-improvement. Regarding translation methods, they brought into play the power of missionaries and adopted “Westerner oral interpretation, Chinese written polishing” as a mode of translation to facilitate the integration of Western and Chinese scientific ideas. During the translation process, translators considered both the continuation of existing domestic terminology and the creation of new terms to ensure the sci-tech knowledge transfer. Therefore, the national consciousness is reflected in all aspects of translation practice. Ultimately, the analysis of national consciousness in the Late Qing sci-tech translation yields significant insights. Firstly, the development of the translation industry cannot be separated from high-quality translation talents, and the state should be committed to cultivating sci-tech translation talents with national consciousness. Secondly, translators should grasp the current development situation and fully exert their initiative in translation practice. Lastly, translation studies should be grounded in contemporary realities and integrate related disciplines to construct a knowledge system of translation studies that is relevant to the new era.

Key words: sci-tech translation in the Late Qing Dynasty, National consciousness, Translation purpose, Li Shanlan