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    Transknowletology: Its Naming and Concept Construction,
    MENG Xiangchun
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2022, 22 (3): 55-64.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2022.03.007
    Abstract3119)   HTML86)    PDF(pc) (1268KB)(735)       Save

    With cross-cultural interaction between local knowledge and global knowledge as its fundamental rationale, and with knowledge and culture synthesized in this conception, Transknowletology, proposed by Yang Feng, integrates “knowledge” in the ontological sense into Translatology, thereby constructing a fundamentally and ultimately knowledge-centered translation theory whose major inquiry focuses on “knowledge translation” and “translated knowledge” essentially in the framework of translation studies. If it should develop following the path of “studies of knowledge translation”, the term “knowledge translation studies”, therefore, may serve as its proper name. If it develops as knowledge-rooted-and-centered translation studies, as it is intended, Transknowletology may be its possible, if not the best, name. By virtue of the naming of “Transknowletology” per se, a series of new concepts or discourses can be reversely constructed, such as “knowledge glocalization”, the “scissors differential of knowledge”, “knowledge impact”, “knowledge-culture entanglement”, the “ripple effect of knowledge”, and the “knowledge translation paradox”, thus enriching and empowering the theory in question. A complete, mature Transknowletology necessitates a proper definition of “knowledge”, the establishment of translation criteria, the organic synthesis of newly constructed concepts and discourses, self-introspection with “others” as frames of reference, and engagement in global scholarship through discourse featuring “comparative glocalism”. These endeavors may enrich and even reshape global translation studies.

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    A Comparative Study on the Inclination of Diplomatic Discourse Based on Chinese-English Set of Word Embedding
    ZHAO Huijun, LIN Mocheng
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2024, 24 (4): 168-178.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674.8921.2024.04.015
    Abstract1430)   HTML6)    PDF(pc) (1222KB)(156)       Save

    The inclination of diplomatic discourse is an important element to measure the diplomatic games among big powers. The concept of diplomatic discourse inclination and relative calculation method are proposed from the perspective of cross-lingual set of word embedding in this paper. Based on the Chinese-English bilingual corpus of Chinese and American diplomatic spokespersons, the parameters are optimized by searching positive and negative keywords in Chinese, and English positive and negative sets of word embedding are further retrieved. The data references for the expression and translation of diplomatic discourses are provided by quantifying the diplomatic discourse inclination of both sides. The research results indicate that both China and the United States exhibit a positive discourse inclination, with China’s positive intensity significantly surpassing that of the United States. However, in the English translation of Chinese discourse, the proportion of China’s positive discourse is less than that of the United States, while the degree of negative reinforcement is greater than that of the United States. The findings suggest that in the game of diplomatic discourse, in order to construct an equivalent diplomatic discourse and political status with the United States, and better achieve diplomatic purpose with Chinese characteristics, as a dominant nation, China could increase the number of positive words and reduce the proportion of negative words in the English set of word embedding in translating from Chinese into English, so as to build an equal diplomatic relationship between China and the United States with equal positive and negative diplomatic discourses.

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    Translation and Area Studies from a Transknowletological Perspective
    LI Ping
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2023, 23 (1): 16-23.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2023.01.002
    Abstract1031)   HTML37)    PDF(pc) (1139KB)(379)       Save

    Area Studies is characterized by its cross-country, cross-linguistic, cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary knowledge production. Translation has long been regarded only as a tool for language transformation in Area Studies. Transknowletology theory defines the essence of translation as an action of knowledge reprocessing and discourse reconstructing. With the framework of Transknowletology, this research has made an observation on the relationship between translation and Area Studies from the dimensions of knowledge production and knowledge dissemination. It is found that translation and Area Studies are linked by knowledge, and are mutually-constructed and co-developed. Translation in Areas Studies functions in making knowledge reconstruction and knowledge dissemination in new contexts, and Areas Studies translation stimulates new translation practice field, translation knowledge domain as well as translation talents cultivation. With the fast development of Area Studies, it is certain that translation will play an increasingly important role in its knowledge production, knowledge flow, knowledge transfer, knowledge dialogue and knowledge innovation.

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    On the Forms of English Translation of Sanguoyanyi and Their Functions
    XU Duo
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2023, 23 (3): 66-74.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2023.03.008
    Abstract982)   HTML8)    PDF(pc) (1380KB)(291)       Save

    Translations are an essential object of the study of translation and a straightforward path for readers to gain an understanding of the literature and culture of other nations. Sanguoyanyi has been translated into English over two centuries, and its English translation takes on a variety of forms, each serving a unique function. The abridged translation puts emphasis on the portrayal of the core characters and the narrative of the key episodes; the full translation pays more attention to the systematic presentation of the history and literary values of the original text; the compilative translation aims at the dissemination of the culture of the Three Kingdoms; the condensed translation demonstrates the catering to contemporary readers. Analysis of the different translation forms of the English translation of Sanguoyanyi and their functions help to grasp the relationship between translation forms and functions. It also contributes to choosing the appropriate translation form for translating and introducing the culture of the Three Kingdoms to foreign countries.

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    Restoration and Transcendence of Life—On the Aesthetic Features of Chekhov’s Drama
    LI Jiabao, WANG Lijun
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2023, 23 (1): 144-152.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2023.01.011
    Abstract952)   HTML25)    PDF(pc) (1556KB)(169)       Save

    Chekhov’s discovery of the original structure of everyday life and its artistic restoration is his great contribution to the world realistic art. The use of a large number of pauses, the creation of lyric atmosphere and the internalization of characters’ actions make the plot of the drama “non-conflicted” and restore the original structure of mediocrity and absurdity of daily life; The circular dramatic structure and the elimination of the logic of language make its drama present the anti-dramatic feature of “non-causality” and expose the absurd essence of human alienation by time; It does not follow the routine of tragedy, comedy and drama, which makes its drama “non-typological”, and analyses life with extraordinary sobriety and perspective beyond time and space. It accurately summarizes and artistically expresses the solemn and stirring and pain of the disappearance of human significance in time, and gives comic attention, which sublimates the aesthetic significance of Chekhov’s drama. His anti-traditional rules of drama creation challenge people’s inherent aesthetic habits, realize drama innovation, and leave a far-reaching impact on future generations from creation to connotation.

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    Multimodal Discourse Analysis: A New Paradigm of Teacher Discourse Research
    YANG Yi, CHEN Changlai
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2022, 22 (4): 144-153.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2022.04.014
    Abstract916)   HTML17)    PDF(pc) (1492KB)(358)       Save

    Multimodal discourse analysis should become a new paradigm of teacher discourse research. It is an cross-disciplinary study of linguistics, pedagogy and computer science, which aims to analyze the process of how teachers make a mixed use of different symbol resources to achieve teaching objectives and the interaction mechanism between different symbol resources. The core of the research route is to determine the annotation scheme and form the analytical framework. In this multimodal discourse analysis, the Elan labeling scheme is formed from the starting point of “establishing research perspective” in tieto-truth modeling. Based on this scheme, the raw corpus is processed and annotated and a multi-modal teacher corpus is built. Then a structural frame of reference is constructed based on the relationship between the two sets of modes, namely “intensification - non-intensification” and “complementation-non-complementation”, on which forming a “ framework for modal interaction analysis of teacher discourse” is based. This framework is used as a tool of multi-modal analysis of teacher discourse. With the help of this new paradigm, the multi-modal corpus of famous foreign language teachers can be constructed to highlight the special attributes of famous teachers, so as to promote the formation of multidimensional teaching evaluation ideas, and contribute to the creation of “golden lessons” in a comprehensive and precise way.

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    A Comparative Analysis of Empirical Studies on Foreign Language Education at Home and Abroad
    XU Jinfen, YANG Jiaqi
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2023, 23 (2): 113-123.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2023.02.011
    Abstract900)   HTML20)    PDF(pc) (1768KB)(428)       Save

    The present paper reviews the empirical studies on foreign language education published in SSCI and CSSCI journals from 2009 to 2022 using the bibliometric analysis tool CiteSpace. After giving an overview of this research area based on the annual publication status, the paper first examines the research subjects, contexts, topics, methods, and theoretical perspectives of the field in China and abroad, and then reveals the research hotspots and deduces the future trends for the field based on the data in the past five years. The findings are as follows: (1) Fruitful results have been achieved both at home and abroad in terms of the empirical investigations into foreign language education, but the research in China is currently lagging behind; (2) Insufficient attention has been paid to primary school students and foreign languages other than English (LOTEs) by both domestic and international researchers; (3) Empirical studies in SSCI and CSSCI journals have focused on various microscopical issues, their research methods and data collection tools are diversified, and they tend to employ similar theoretical frameworks; (4) With the continuous development of information technology, both domestic and foreign scholars are paying increasing attention to technology-empowered foreign language education. Based on the above findings, suggestions on future research are put forward.

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    College English Writing Instruction in a ChatGPT Context
    CHEN Mo, LV Mingchen
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2024, 24 (1): 161-168.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2024.01.013
    Abstract873)   HTML33)    PDF(pc) (1279KB)(1810)       Save

    As a representative of the latest stage in artificial intelligence development, ChatGPT has attracted widespread attention from various sectors of society and has also brought new assistance to foreign language/second language writing instruction. From the perspective of activity theory, this paper analyzed college English writing instruction in the ChatGPT context, by exploring at each stage how teachers can effectively utilize ChatGPT to prepare and organize English writing instruction while actively mitigating potential risks associated with the new technologies. In this process, there have been corresponding changes in the teachers' roles. The teachers have reduced the time spent on knowledge output and repetitive tasks while increasing the emphasis on critical thinking and emotional guidance.

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    College English as General Education or Discipline-specific Education:Tthe Orientation of College English Teaching to ESP Revisited
    CAI Jigang
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2022, 22 (3): 84-91.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2022.03.010
    Abstract858)   HTML10)    PDF(pc) (1210KB)(252)       Save

    College English Teaching Guidelines defines college English as general education and assigns English for specific purposes (ESP) a minor role. We believe that college English is discipline-specific education and should be orientated towards ESP. Its instrumental and humanistic harmony could be found in its pedagogy. It could not only help students engage in their disciplinary studies in English, but also improve their cross-cultural competence in the domain of their disciplines. With the credit decrease of college English, we suggest that general English and culture courses should be removed from the required courses of college English.

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    New Thought of Ecolinguistics and Its Implications to Ecological Discourse Analysis
    HA Changchen, HUANG Guowen
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2022, 22 (5): 88-96.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2022.05.010
    Abstract826)   HTML14)    PDF(pc) (1316KB)(327)       Save

    Arran Stibbe defines the term “ecolinguistics” as “the study of the role of language in the life-sustaining interactions of humans with other species and the physical environment” in the monograph of second edition entitled Ecolinguistics (Stibbe 2021). Previous studies inclined to “influencing how humans treat ecosystems”, however, it has been changed into “seeing language as part of ecosystems” under the guidance of new thought. Starting from Stibbe’s recent thought, this study reviews ecolinguistics studies and the general framework of discourse analysis, focusing on implications for ecological discourse analysis in China. The results show that our ecological discourse analysis should concentrate on three aspects: (1) exploring the ecological value of our traditional culture, (2) refining the types of ecological discourse, and (3) improving the level of ecological literacy. This is of great significance in terms of further developments of ecolinguistics studies in China.

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    Developments of Language Transfer Studies during the Past 30 Years
    GAI Feihong
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2022, 22 (3): 113-121.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2022.03.013
    Abstract744)   HTML16)    PDF(pc) (1102KB)(439)       Save

    Undergoing briefly four phases, language transfer research (LTR) has experienced unprecedented development since 30 years ago. Many important empirical discoveries and theoretical advances have been springing up in recent years, which are aimed to reveal how languages interact with each other in the brain and to explore the factors that influence language transfer in the complex, dynamic and systematic way. Standing in the frontier of LTR, the generative approach focuses on L1 transfer in relation to syntax. Contrastively, conceptual transfer approach, closely connected with linguistic relativity and neo-Whorfianism, is mainly concerned with how L1 concepts are transferred to L2 discourse. Language transfer could be better explained with the Complex Dynamic Systems Theory and the potentially concept-based multicompetence model. And relative studies should encompass linguistic and non-linguistic factors, compare languages horizontally and/or longitudinally, and describe and explicate transfer by interdisciplinary and multi-perspective ways.

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    An Embodied-Cognitive Interpretation of Transknowletology(I)
    WANG Yin
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2023, 23 (5): 16-22.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2023.05.002
    Abstract740)   HTML10)    PDF(pc) (1070KB)(138)       Save

    Scholars both at home and broad have been seeking hard for the essence of translation for many years, but without any result. Yang Feng has rethought this orientational error of “Forgetting essence because of usage; Losing Dao (doctrine) in sight of Qi (utensil)” in traditional translation studies, thus considering only knowledge as the essence of translation, based on which Transknowletology has been proposed. So we should devote ourselves to the behaviour, relationship, movement and regulation in the processing of cross-language knowledge, its reconstructing and redisseminating. Epistemology thinks that human knowledge mainly originates from our experience (perception) and mind (rationality), the former being named “ti (body)” and the latter “ren (cognition)”, which is so-named “Linguistic Embodiment-Cognition View” being recently discussed by SISU Team. The present paper thinks that this view can not only explain the origin of language and knowledge, but also deepen the research of Trnasknowletology. If the essence of translation is knowledge, the essence of knowledge is embodiment-cognition, thus Transknowletology and Embodied-Cognitive Tanslatology are on the same track.

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    Brian Tomlinson's Principles in Developing Materials for Language Teaching from an ELF Perspective: A Comprehensive Review and Its Implications
    DONG Lianzhong, QI Fang, Lawrence Jun ZHANG
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2023, 23 (6): 108-117.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2023.06.011
    Abstract725)   HTML16)    PDF(pc) (1394KB)(254)       Save

    This paper offers a comprehensive review of Brian Tomlinson's theoretical principles, core issues and directions in materials development for language teaching over the past 20 years from the perspective of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). It critically examines textbook development principles and multiple core issues relating to English textbook development in five aspects with reference to Chinese researchers' empirical findings and reflections in ELF. This is done with a view of compiling English syllabi in China for constructing ELF materials for language teaching. The review aims to raise awareness of the need to further disseminate national cultures and Chinese values in English syllabi and textbook development, to focus on core issues in textbook development with Chinese characteristics, and to expand foreign language education in serving the implementation of the “Belt and Road” initiative.

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    Pre-service Teachers’ Acceptance of Artificial Intelligence-assisted Foreign Language Education
    MEI Bing
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2024, 24 (2): 89-99.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2024.02.008
    Abstract705)   HTML12)    PDF(pc) (1516KB)(999)       Save

    Based on prior technology acceptance research, the study employed the focus group interview method and investigated 11 pre-service English teachers’ acceptance of artificial intelligence-assisted English pronunciation training. Results from the thematic analysis suggest that this cohort of pre-service teachers held paradoxical views towards this approach. On one hand, they acknowledged its usefulness and ease of use; while on the other hand, they showed negative attitude and low intention to adopt this approach. The findings of this study are of practical value for preparing pre-service teachers for the incoming artificial intelligence era and optimizing the forms of language education in the new era.

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    Neural Network Models in Natural Language Processing
    FENG Zhiwei, DING Xiaomei
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2022, 22 (4): 98-110.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2022.04.010
    Abstract704)   HTML9)    PDF(pc) (2480KB)(317)       Save

    Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a new interdisciplinary subject to study and process the natural language by computer. In recent years, NLP has developed very rapidly and it attracted great attention from the linguistic community. This paper discusses four types of neural network model in natural language processing: Feed-forward Neural Network model (FNN), Convolutional Neural Network model (CNN), Recurrent Neural Network model (RNN), and Pre-Training model (PT), including the basic principle, structure, algorithm, and mechanism of the model, highlights their application in NLP. The paper points out that although the neural network models have become the mainstream of NLP, but these models still lack interpretability and need to be supported by rule-based language models and statistics-based language models in the futur.

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    A Review of 20-Year Corpus-based Research on Oral English Teaching in China from 2002 to 2021
    ZHOU Weijing, WANG Suwan
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2022, 22 (4): 123-132.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2022.04.012
    Abstract691)   HTML37)    PDF(pc) (1871KB)(591)       Save

    The present study explored the progress and inadequacy of corpus-based research on oral English teaching in China based on all the relevant key journal papers issued on CNKI from 2002 to 2021. The results of data analysis are as follows: (1) In terms of the overall tendency, this type of research started in 2003, developed rapidly into its heyday from 2007 to 2011 before it declined gradually. (2) In terms of its subjects, college students were the overwhelming majority, while high school students were sporadically involved, and primary and vocational school students were largely missed out. (3) In terms of research methods, empirical quantitative research was dominant, lacking the introduction to English Lingua Franca Corpus and the integration of cognitive processing technology. (4) In terms of research content, the non-empirical studies focused on the introduction, construction, application, review, and reflections of the oral corpus home and abroad, while the empirical studies largely focused on the vocabulary, collocation, and grammar of the transcriptions of oral speech, but hugely neglected the essential features of spoken speech, such as pronunciation, intonation and continuous speech, as well as the processing mechanism of spoken English produced or perceived by Chinese EFL learners.

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    “Proximization” as a Positive Discourse Strategy:A Case Study of Zhu Ziqing’s Essay “Spring”
    LUO Xuanmin, CAO Yunzhi
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2023, 23 (3): 103-113.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2023.03.012
    Abstract675)   HTML6)    PDF(pc) (1704KB)(241)       Save

    “Proximization”, as a new perspective of discourse analysis, is widely used in Critical Discourse Analysis. Its assumption is that discourse producer usually depicts the Outside Deictic Center (ODC) as a dangerous entity gradually moving closer to the Inside Deictic Center (IDC), and persuades IDC to take actions against impending ODC to legalize their illegal actions. Thus, proximization is assigned a negative coloring. However, in this research it is found that “proximization” can be used as a positive discourse strategy for Positive Discourse Analysis. ODC is not always negative or dangerous,but sometimes it is friendly and beneficial to IDC. This research takes the prose “Spring” (by Zhu Ziqing) as an example, from the perspective of spatial proximization, temporal proximization and axiological proximization, to have made positive discourse analysis of the prose “Spring”. It has been found that the relationship between ODC and IDC in the prose “Spring” is not hostile but harmonious. ODC transfers positive power to IDC, IDC warmly embracing ODC. It is evident that proximization in the prose “Spring” is a positive discourse strategy.

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    On Translating zhishi fanyixue into Metatranslatology in the Light of its Principle of Real Meanings, Full Preparations and TT Aesthetic Conceptions
    YUE Feng, CHEN Zeyu
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2022, 22 (3): 65-73.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2022.03.008
    Abstract670)   HTML10)    PDF(pc) (1431KB)(330)       Save

    Zhishi fanyixue, proposed by Professor YANG Feng, is all about the nature of translation by focusing on knowledge. According to this theory, a translated meaning unit actually consists of two parts: one is knowledge contained in the source text, the other is the added cultural messages manipulated by the translator for ideological reasons. It’s knowledge that should be translated so as not to be misleading. The translation practice described by Zhishi fanyixue is guided by the principle of real meanings, full preparations and appropriate expressions based on target-text aesthetic conceptions. By the principle of real meanings is meant that translation should translate the knowledge in the source text; by the principle of full preparations is meant that translation should take the sociolinguistic factors and reader friendliness into consideration in order to assist the readers to view the knowledge in the source text; by the principle of TT aesthetic conceptions is meant that translation should introduce the knowledge in the source text by following the aesthetic principles of target language. Since Zhishi fanyixue centers on knowledge and deals with some crucial issues of translation, it is therefore translated into metatranslatology.

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    I “Eat”; Therefore I “Am” :Food Narrative and Ethnic Identity in Everything I Never Told You
    YAO Hongyan
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2023, 23 (4): 145-150.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2023.04.017
    Abstract670)   HTML10)    PDF(pc) (1018KB)(194)       Save

    Food not only nourishes one’s biological organism, but also constructs his social and cultural identity. It marks the group that an eater belongs to and defines the otherness of a different group; it makes the eater and the eater makes himself by eating. In Chinese American woman writer Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You, foodways play an important role in constructing James’ ethnic identity. Due to the widespread discourse of the inferiority of Chinese foodways in mainstream American society, James tries to deny his ethnic identity by refusing Chinese food. However, when his efforts to integrate into the mainstream society go futile, and when he eats cha siu bau again, he finally realizes that ethnicity is an undeniable part of his identity. The interaction between James and the foodways not only shows the struggle and helplessness of Chinese Americans in the process of ethnic identity construction, but also exposes the operating mode of American hegemonic culture.

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    Knowledge Ethics and Knowledge Construction of Artificial Intelligence Translation
    SHI Yun
    Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies    2023, 23 (6): 156-165.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2023.06.016
    Abstract637)   HTML5)    PDF(pc) (1482KB)(199)       Save

    The urgent need of the language service industry, the requirement of translation professionalization and the advancement of translation technology push the rapid development of artificial intelligence translation, profoundly affecting people's understanding about translation. The paper firstly clarifies the knowledge principle of artificial intelligence translation, and reflects troubling ethical questions raised by artificial intelligence translation. Besides, centered around the principles of real meanings, full preparations and aesthetic conceptions from transknowletology, the paper endeavors to ethically prescribe artificial intelligence translation to cope with the new ethical challenges posed by it nowadays and in the near future.

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