What is translation?Some people believe it is a science,others take it as an art,and yet many consider it a craft,or rather,a skill.
Of these varied opinions,which one holds true for our purpose?The answer depends on how we understand or interpret the word"translation",for the very word"translation"itself is ambiguous,and the chinese equicalent"fanyi"sounds even fuzzier.Fanyi,in chinese,may either stand for a subject in the curriculum,a job people are engaged in,a piece of literaty work,or the translating or interpreting work itself.Sometimes,"fanyi"may even refer to the translator or interpreter himself/herself.
If the word"translation"refers to a subject,namely,the study of translation theory and skills,it is no doubt a science,just as any subject is,with its own rules and principles for translators to abide by,however,if it refers to some specific pieces of translation,then it is more like an art,with each piece manifesting its own charms and style by the areutive work of the translator,whereas,if it refers to a process,in which something is translated,then we may regard it as a craft or a skill.For unlike any branch of natural science,the process of translation has its peculiarity,and none of its rules and principles are unicersally applicable.Besides,it entails a lot of practice-particular craftsmanship and skills are displayed by the touches of different translators.