On The Values And Influences Of The "Two Turns" In Translation And Cultural Studies

To explore and analyze the "Two Turns" (namely the cultural turn in Translation Studies and the translation turn in Cultural Studies ),it is necessary to trace back to the period of 2000 years ago when Translation Studies in the West began.We find out that Translation Studies in the West, from the very beginning, developed itself based on two directions. One was linguistics-oriented with Augustine as the founder; the other was culture-oriented with Cicero as the pioneer. Since then, both of them have developed respectively till today, producing a large number of dazzling people with rich theoretical outcomes.We also find out that Translation Studies in the West thrived and prospered in the 20^th century, especially in 1950s. It was so because of the rapid development and boom of linguistic theories and Translation Studies was strongly armed with them. Under the guidance of linguistic doctrines, the linguistic turn came into being. Many scholars and researchers made tremendous achievements through their incessant efforts and probes. In 1970s, however, Translation Studies experienced a lot of difficulties and challenges that could not been dealt within the frame of the linguistic approach. A group of scholars and experts tried to examine Translation Studies from the cultural angle, thus bringing the birth of the cultural turn. In the 21^st century, Cultural Studies is looming large in the context of globalization. Translation is functioning heavily with the economic integration and cultural diversity. As a result, the translation turn in Cultural Studies has become a reality.This thesis tries to probe and analyze the "Two Turns" in an empirical formula based on the frame of the above-mentioned term. There are three major focuses: 1) The logic and inevitability of the "Two Turns" and their values and influences in Translation as well as Cultural Studies; 2) the horizontal and vertical relations between the "Two Turns" and 3) how they can provide theoretical support and help to the Chinese Translation and Cultural Studies in the era of globalization. Regarding the organization, the thesis consists of three chapters with an introduction and a conclusion.In Introduction, the author tries to provide the general scene of the whole picture to be drawn and the major focuses to be discussed.Chapter one focuses on a brief history of translation theories in the West, dating from the ancient Roman period to the middle of the 20^th century. Some important figures of the Cultural School will be discussed in detail in order to show that the cultural turn came from history rather than a vacuum.Chapter two concerns the cultural turn and its values and influences in Translation Studies. The focuses are the philosophical background, the economic and social background as well as the development of Translation Studies itself on the eve of the cultural turn. Some representatives concerned are going to be mentioned together with convincing examples and illustrations to demonstrate the inevitability and rationality of the cultural turn.Chapter three logically deals with the translation turn and its values and influences including 1) logical relations and influences between the "Two Turns"; 2) background information of the translation turn and 3) the "Two Turns" and the boom and development of the Chinese Translation and Cultural Studies.In Conclusion, the author stresses the three major focuses mentioned above and shows the values and special insights of this thesis.