A Study Of Translation Strategies From The Perspective Of Golden Mean

As for translation strategies there have been conflicting perspectives in both Chinese and western translation circles throughout history. The debate on "Wen" and "Zhi" in Buddhist sutra translation period of ancient China, the argument about "literal translation" and "free translation" before and after the May Fourth Movement and the battle between "foreignization" and "domestication" after the cultural turn of translation in late20th century are all discussions about the choice of proper strategies. These conclusions drawn by famed translation theorists home and abroad are the essence of wisdom of translators of generations as well as outcomes of their years of diligent practice. However, most of the theories take literal and free translation, or foreignization and domestication as a pair of irreconcilable contradictions. Therefore they apply a one-sided view on the choice of translation strategy. There is no doubt that the conflict between foreignization and domestication will be a long-term existence which calls for a more systematic theoretical basis to make proper choice. Furthermore, the highly-developed globalization of the world also asks to consider the proper choice of translation strategies in a more complicated and comprehensive system according to which extremism is no longer appropriate. From a dialectical viewpoint, since both foreignization and domestication have their own traits and utility values, the two should be analyzed and researched as an organic whole. In addition, as the nature of translation is a complex system involving human activities in fields of languages, arts, societies and cultures, the choice on translation strategies in translating process will certainly be influenced by factors such as the purpose of translation, text type, target reader and ideology of the translator, etc. As a significant component of ideology, the philosophical thoughts of the translator will definitely affect his choice of translation strategy."Zhongyong", or the Golden Mean principles are the core of Chinese traditional Confucianism. As for its nature, the Golden Mean refers to handling affairs in an impartial and unbiased manner to achieve a dynamic equilibrium. As a guidance thought of translation, the Golden Mean refers to viewing toreignization or domestication in no isolation but as an organic whole that can be interconvertible under certain conditions. Thus they can be combined harmoniously together with proper degree in translation practice to reach the ultimate equilibrium in terms of which the choice of proper translation strategy will eventually bring about a superb translation.Zhang Guruo was a great translator whose translation skills could be viewed as an art. When examined closely, his translation works present a dynamic equilibrium of both foreignization and domestication where the two strategies coexist in harmony with interdependence and interconversion. Instead of causing any disfluency, such equilibrium produces a particular charm and brings about an enjoyment of beauty. The Golden Mean principles are bound to show its positive effects on the choice of translation strategy as well as the improvement of translation theories in an era that translation activities are getting increasingly brisk.