On the History and Actuality of the English Translation for Chinese Twenty-four Solar Terms in Dictionaries

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-8578.2014.04.011

Abstract

Abstract: Twenty four Solar Terms are unique concepts of Chinese culture. They do not have unified English translations until now, which is very inconvenient for the international culture communication. This article tries to trace various translations in historical Chinese English dictionaries. By comparing different editions, we unveil the efforts and influences made by past generations. According to the translations of some critical terms and typical words, these translations can be classified into three systems: the Stent-MacGillivray system, the Doolittle-Giles system and a more recent Chinese Astronomical Terminology Committee edition. These sources and knowledge can be helpful to understand and adopt, or even standardize proper translations of solar terms.

Key words: Solar term, Chinese-English translation, dictionary, astronomy, translation history

CLC Number: (术语规范及交流)

YU Heng. On the History and Actuality of the English Translation for Chinese Twenty-four Solar Terms in Dictionaries[J]. China Terminology, 2014, 16(4): 46-50.

References

[1] 马礼逊(Robert Morrison). 五车韵府(A Dictionary of the Chinese Language)[M]. 上海:London Mission Press,1865:151(Vol I), 6(Vol II).
[2] 司登德(George C. Stent).汉英合璧相连字汇(A Chinese and English Vocabulary in the Pekinese Dialect)[M]. 上海:Customs Press,1871:661.
[3] 季理斐(Donald MacGillivray).华英成语合璧字集(A Mandarin-Romanized dictionary of Chinese)[M]. 2版.上海:Presbyterian Mission Press,1907:961.
[4] 季理斐(Donald MacGillivray).英华成语合璧字集(A Mandarin-Romanized dictionary of Chinese)[M]. 3版,上海:Presbyterian Mission Press,1911:961.
[5] 罗存德(Wilhelm Lobscheid), [日]井上哲次郎修订. 英华字典(An English and Chinese dictionary)[M]. 东京:J.Fujimoto,1883:1345.
[6] 高永伟. 罗存德和他的《英华词典》[J].辞书研究,2011(6):146-158.
[7] 卢公明(Justus Doolittle). 英华萃林韵府(Vocabulary and hand-book of the Chinese language)[M]. 福州:Rozario,Marcal and Company,1872:669 (Vol II).
[8] 翟理斯(Herbert Allen Giles). 华英词典(A Chinese-English Dictionary)[M]. 上海:Kelly & Walsh Ltd.,1912:26.
[9] 马修斯(Robert Henry Mathews).汉英词典(Mathews' Chinese-English dictionary)[M]. 上海:China Inland Mission and Presbyterian Mission Press,1931:1178.
[10] 司佳. 邝其照与1868 年《字典集成》初版[J]. 广东社会科学,2013(1) :149-158.
[11] 邝其照.华英字典集成[M]. 上海:Kelly & Walsh Ltd.,1887:488.
[12] 林语堂. 当代汉英词典[M]. 香港:香港中文大学出版社,1972:1452-1453.
[13] 吴景荣. 编写《汉英词典》的经验与教训[J].辞书研究,1980(2):32-41.
[14] 梁实秋. 远东英汉大辞典[M]. 台北:远东图书公司,1977:1433.
[15] 吴景荣.汉英词典(修订本) [M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,1995:976.
[16] 姚小平. 汉英词典[M]. 3版. 北京:外语教学与研究出版社,2010:1943.
[17] 吴景荣,程镇球.新时代汉英大词典[M].北京:商务印书馆,2000:2094.
[18] 天文学名词审定委员会.天文学名词[M]. 北京:科学出版社,1987:67.
[19] 高永伟. 综述民国期间的汉英词典[J].复旦外国语言文学论丛,2010(1):177-184.
[20] 元青. 晚清汉英、英汉双语词典编纂出版的兴起与发展[J].近代史研究,2013(1):94.
[21] 徐式谷. 历史上的汉英词典(上)[J].辞书研究, 2002(1):126-138.
[22] 徐式谷. 历史上的汉英词典(下)[J].辞书研究, 2002(2):115-124.