A Study On The Distribution Of English Versions Of Common Acupuncture And Moxibustion

Objective:On the basis of standard of China, World Health Organization and World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, for the standardized nomenclature,translation for acupuncture techniques and moxibustion terminology was listed and the most frequency item was analyzed and discussed,the common translation method and existing problem for translation were pointed out,in order to provide some guidance and basis for standardization in acupuncture translation.Research Methods:The thesis consists of three steps. The first step was collecting Chinese terms. By collecting nomenclature of acupuncture techniques and moxibustion in thirteen books and dictionaries,the author got 77 terms,including 57 in acupuncture techniques,20 in moxibustion after three times arranging and screening. The second step was collecting English terms. with the help of vip, wan fang and cnki database,books,dictionaries,national and international standard,the author got the English terms refer to 31 articles,18 kinds of magazines,11 master and doctor thesis in 22 universities,1 conference papers; 23 English-Chinese and Chinese-English dictionaries,4 national and international standards;31 English journals.The third steps was listing the highest frequency for English terms. By adopting translation rules and methods in International Standard Chinese-English Basic Nomenclature of Chinese Medicine and dictionaries,the author analyzed proper English terms for the highest frequency.Results:1.Collecting totally 76 items for acupuncture techniques and moxibustion exists 20 polysemy and 4 different words translating one word.2.From the point of TCM translation method, literal translation accounts for higher percentage,while transliteration and free translation are not common.3.The number of items in Practical Chinese-English dictionary of traditional chinese medicine and a new Chinese-English dictionary of traditional chinese medicine is the highest frequency,which totals 34 times. 4.From the number of translating into languages point of view,it only has 3 items for one translation method,and items for five translation methods are the most,even maximus number of translating methods up to 13. 5.24 acupuncture techniques and moxibustion items go against “simplicity” and “accuracy” principle in TCM English translation. 6.There is a difference between 3 items from 9 items included WHO standard and the highest frequency.Conclusion:1.Literal translation is more common in the process of acupuncture techniques and moxibustion translation,but in fact it is not appropriate methods for all the acupuncture terminologies translation. 2.Acupuncture techniques and moxibustion is characterized by history, unique and culture for traditional chinese medicine,which terminology’s concept and meaning are not uniform,items need standardization. 3.Government should strengthen train and assessment system for TCM translators. 4.It will be a long process for development for standardization in acupunctue techniques and moxibustion translation items.