Alienation Translation Theory Advocated by Lu Xun
鲁迅的异化翻译理论

Alienation translation theory was put forward by Lu Xun as early as in the 1930s. But it was subsequently criticized, reproached and neglected. Not even a mention of it was made in the attempt to establish a self-contained system of Chinese translation theories. As a matter of fact, translation theory has always developed in the contention of different opinions. It is gratifying to know that with the reorientation in translation studies and the introduction of deconstruction theory, more attention has been paid to the value of Lu Xun's translation theories, which consists of the following viewpoints: translation is conducted for the purpose of promoting the cause of a nation by taking in what is useful; attention should be given to the position of translator in culture; translation should facilitate the reconstruction of a nation's culture; smooth translation could be harmful for it sometimes embodies the hypocrisy of knowledge and can be on the side of the conservative forces. The issue that was sharply discerned by Lu Xun in his days has won approval of the deconstructionists who also stress the necessity of maintaining the linguistic and cultural differences in translation and the merits of alienation translation strategy in curbing colonial and imperialist oppression of weak cultures in translation. They believe that smooth translation, due to its failure to reflect the true nature of the functions of translation, often caters to the mindset of conservative forces in a culture. Certain criticism against Lu Xun's theory and practice in translation is neither convincing nor fair and the arguments they present reveal the lack of understanding of the essence of Lu Xun's translation theories.