Abstract:

Traditional interpreting studies, dominated by structuralist linguistics and cognitive psychology, have long treated interpreting as a neutral technique of language transfer, obscuring its profound implications for civilizational interaction. Grounded in the theoretical framework of Transknowletology, this paper redefines interpreting as “the cross-linguistic and real-time reconstruction of local knowledge.” On this basis, it integrates the Chinese philosophical concepts of “Gantong” (affective resonance) and the ethics of “Shudao” (the principle of empathy), along with Gadamer’s “fusion of horizons” and Buber’s philosophy of “encounter,” to construct a fourfold theoretical lens. The study proposes the “Gantong-Symbiosis Model” to elucidate the essential structure of interpreting: “Gantong” serves as its ontological foundation, wherein meaning emerges from the mutual resonance of vital forces; “fusion of horizons” constitutes its epistemological path, with understanding dynamically unfolding in dialogue; “Shudao” forms its ethical core, governing the direction of meaning-making through the principle of empathy; and “Symbiosis” defines its relational dimension, culminating in the authentic “I-You” dialogue. Thus, interpreting is demonstrated as a generative practice of cross-civilizational meaning negotiation, horizon integration, and ethical relationship building. This paper opens up a theoretical trajectory for interpreting studies from “information transfer” to “knowledge generation” and further to “mutual learning among civilizations,” offering theoretical validation and empirical support for Transknowletology from the perspective of interpreting.

Key words: Interpreting studies, mutual learning among civilizations, Transknowletology/Knowlepretology, “Gantong-Symbiosis” Model, dialogue philosophy