What is it about?
This article explains how what is now the standard translation of 'logic' into Chinese became established. The key figure was Zhang Shizhao, who studied at Aberdeen between 1909 and 1912, and wrote his influential paper 'On the Meanings of Names in Translation' while studying with the Regius Professor of Logic at the time, William Davidson.
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Why is it important?
The translation of 'logic' into Chinese is an excellent case study in understanding the nature of philosophical translation. Translation into Chinese is especially complex and contested, but also revealingly creative and much more philosophically interesting than most European language-speakers appreciate.
Perspectives
As someone who has engaged in philosophical translation myself (from German into English), and has been increasingly interested in Chinese philosophy, where translation can be especially tricky, I found this particular case study instructive. Working with my PhD student Xiaolan Liang, we analysed Zhang Shizhao's key paper, 'On the Meanings of Names in Translation', in detail, both evaluating and contextualising the arguments he provided for the translation of 'logic' as '邏輯' ('luoji').
Michael Beaney
University of Aberdeen
I hope this article will lead readers to see the interesting linguistic phenomenon of translating philosophical terms, especially when Chinese language comes into picture. '逻辑' is such a natrual term that we native speakers oftern do not realize it is a phonemic translation of 'logic', for we kind of see it as a semantic one. This is owing to Yan Fu and Zhang Shizhao's careful choice of characters, among many homophones. Sharing the same interest, my phd professor and me decide to work together to explore why '逻辑' wins over and its philosophical implications.
Xiaolan Liang
Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Logic, ‘Logic,’ ‘Luoji,’ and 邏輯: Zhang Shizhao and the Translation of ‘Logic’ into Chinese, Journal of Chinese Philosophy, November 2023, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/15406253-12340113.
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