Notes on the history of the standardization of traditional Chinese medicine terminology in the English language

Abstract: The speaker will apply methods of historiography, philology and descriptive study to divide the translation history of TCM terminology into three phases. He will focus on representative experts and social events to illustrate different aspects of their translation principles and standards and to discuss associated factors and inherent problems. He found that the development of a terminology standard for TCM has generally progressed (1) from early approaches that were ill-suited to the contemporary needs to culturally and professionally referenced approaches, (2) from uncoordinated research to systematic studies, and (3) from individual works to collaborative endeavours. The present international standards of TCM terminology have been attained through the work of numerous scholars and experts in the history of the field. Moreover, in the face of various standards of TCM terminology, the speaker suggested a flexible strategy to choose from them according to different situations.

About the speaker: Xiao Ye is an Associate Professor of Foreign Languages Department, School of Humanities and Management, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University and Dean of Medicine and Humanities Department. His work mainly involves with teaching and research in the fields of medical English translation, international communication and exchange of traditional Chinese medicine, culture of traditional Chinese medicine. He was once a visiting scholar in the University of Westminster for half a year under the mentorship of Prof. Volker Scheid, and worked for two years at the Confucius Institute of the University of Coimbra, Portugal. He is a member of the Specialty Committee of Translation of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies and the Translation Branch of the China Association of Chinese Medicine. He has been funded by many research programs in the field of TCM Terminology Translation. He is an Editor-in-chief of two volumes published by People's Health Publishing House, and has translated eight works in different fields of Chinese medicine. He also designed software with others for the purpose of TCM terminology translation.


ArgO-EMR Seminars Michaelmas 2019

Thick Translation Strategies for Chinese Medicine

Pauling Centre, 58a Banbury Road

5.00pm-6.30pm, Wednesdays (Weeks 1, 2, 5, 7)

Convened by Elisabeth Hsu