A Study Of The Debate On Translation Language Between Yan Fu And Liang Qichao

In the late Qing Dynasty, the language of literature was in an awkward situation where ancient Chinese and vernacular Chinese existed at the same time. This phenomenon exerted an influence on the field of translation, making it difficult for translators to choose an appropriate translation language.It was under such a circumstance that sparked a debate on the choice of translation language between Yan Fu and Liang Qichao. Yan Fu and Liang Qichao are often thought of as two of the most influential figures in the modern Chinese translation history. With their great efforts, Yan Fu systematically introduced the Western modern philosophy and social science theory to China, while Liang Qichao called for a reform of Chinese traditional novels and translated several foreign novels into Chinese. The debate between Yan Fu and Liang Qichao was on whether ancient Chinese or vernacular Chinese should be used when translating a foreign work. Liang Qichao advocated the promotion of vernacular Chinese, arguing that the elegant ancient Chinese that Yan Fu adopted in the translated book Yuan Fu was far beyond the reach of common people. However, Yan Fu did not agree with Liang, insisting that ancient Chinese was more acceptable for well-educated people. This debate successfully attracted a wide attention at that time. However, the significance and deep exploration of the debate have long been neglected in the Chinese translation academia.This paper tends to explore why and how the debate happened and to analyze what its focuses were. The major findings are as follows. First of all, Yan Fu aimed at the intellectuals rather than the ordinary people as Liang Qichao did as the target readership. Secondly, the different selection of the source text is another important factor to cause the debate. What Yan chose were works on sociology while what Liang chose were mostly foreign novels. Thirdly, there are three different focuses underlying the debate, namely their attitudes towards Chinese traditional culture, writing purposes and views on language. In terms of Yan Fu, his attitude towards Chinese traditional culture was relatively conservative while Liang Qichao’s was more radical; Yan Fu wrote for classical works that could be read by following generations, but Liang Qichao was engaged in writing in hope of an instant educational effect on common people; Yan Fu preferred Tongcheng School and ancient Chinese, while Liang Qichao proposed New Style and vernacular Chinese.The debate on the choice of translation language between Yan Fu and Liang Qichao, reflects the dilemma that translators in the late Qing Dynasty were confronted with. On the other hand, the debate to some extent, could be regarded as one of incentives of the outburst of the Vernacular Movement in 1919.