Primary Research On Standardization For English Translation On Zhuang Medical Terminologies

Objective: Focusing on the standardization for English translation on Zhuang medicine terminologies in a designated range,the research aimed at formulating the Chinese-English glossary of Zhuang medical terminologies,so as to provide the foundation for the establishment of standardization for English translation on Zhuang medical terminologies,and promote the international communications of Zhuang medicine.Methods: Considering that Zhuang medicine not only shares similarities with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),but also belongs to folk medicines(such as Tibetan medicine,Dai medicine and Mongolian medicine),both International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine in The Western Pacific Region(ISTTM)and International Standard Chinese-English Basic Nomenclature of Chinese Medicine(ISNCM)were mainly used as the guiding principles for the research.In addition,some preliminary achievements of researches on standardization for English translation on folk medical terminologies were also applied as references,so as to discuss the standardization for English translation on Zhuang medical terminologies in the aspects of screening,classifications,arrangement as well as principles and methods in English translation on Zhuang medical terminologies.Firstly,based on the principle of science,regionalism and prospectiveness,200 basic and clinical terms were screened from 12 text books of Zhuang medicine(including Basic Theory of Zhuang Medicine,Diagnostic of Zhuang Medicine,etc.)published by Guangxi Nationalities Publishing House and other references related to Zhuang medicine.Those terms were classified in accordance with three aspects,including the domination-subordination relationship,specific category and grammar structure as well as disciplinary feature of terms.Moreover,based on the standardizations for English translation on both TCM and other folk medicines,the principles and methods of English translation on Zhuang medical terminologies were set up,including principles of correspondence,nationalism,retroversion and convention,as well as methods of literal translation,free translation and transliteration which were applied skillfully in the English translation for those 200 terms in accordance with their connotations.Finally,from the level of terminological nature,grammar structure and connotation,the English translation for 21 kinds of Zhuang medical terminologies was analyzed,including the subject,book,theory,basic substance,viscera,meridian and collateral,disease,pulse,pattern,etiological factor,pathogenesis,prevention,therapeutic principle,therapeutic method,manipulation of stinging therapy,ignition of stinging therapy,Zhuang materia medica,compatibility,contraindication as well as flavor.Therefore,the general rule of English translation for Zhuang medical terminologies was concluded,and the translation for those with national features were also discussed in the paper.Results: The four principles and three methods mentioned in this paper were applicable to the research on standardization for English translation on Zhuang medical terminologies,and the “Tentative Chinese-English Glossary for Zhuang Medical Terminological Arrangement(200 terms)” was drafted up.Conclusion: 1.With its practicalbility,the “Tentative Chinese-English Glossary for Zhuang Medical Terminological Arrangement(200 terms)” has the promotional value in international communications of Zhuang medicine;2.The specific criteria should be regarded as the rule for the whole process in standardization establishment for English translation on Zhuang medical terminologies;3.The appropriate scheme for primary research on standardization for English translation on Zhuang medical terminologies should be made on basis of both its own feature and the achievement of other relative researches;4.The translator who involves in the research on standardization for English translation on Zhuang medical terminologies should have the competent skills in both Zhuang medicine and English translation.