The Autopoiesis Of Translation System From The Perspective Of Luhmann’s Social Systems Theory

The research subject chosen by the author is the Chinese version of Run Away, translated by Li Wenjun and originally written by Alice Munro. The guiding theory is Luhmann’s Social Systems Theory(SST). This thesis aims at introducing the two important concepts(autopoiesis and communication) in SST into translation so as to provide scholars with a new perspective to view translation and diversify the research field in translation too.This research starts from sociological translation, and adopts the research methods of case study, translation process study, and descriptive translation study. The research indicates that translation is an autopoietic system realizing through three ways: autonomy, heteronomy and communication between the two, which are correspondingly realized in Li’s translation through the following three aspects. Firstly, the communication in Li’s translation of Run Away, such as the translation purpose, choice of translation materials, Li’s previous communication and his knowledge reserve, and the information communications in the translation of Run Away. Secondly, the autonomy of translation and translator’s strategy of domestication, which is analyzed from the aspects of Chinese four-character structure, change of sentence sequence, and free translation. Thirdly, the heteronomy of translation and translator’s strategy of foreignization, which is analyzed from the aspects of translation of foreign names and dealing with dashes. Finally, the author finds that Luhmann’s SST can be used to explain some translation phenomena that are taken for granted. For example, it explains why in a translation text, there is always a combination of domestication and foreignization instead of pursuing either one of them. Li’s translation is a combination of both strategies as a result of balance pursuing between the inside and outside of translation systems.