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Translational Tradition in Korea and Translational Policy

  • The Journal of Translation Studies
  • Abbr : JTS
  • 2006, 7(1), pp.7-24
  • Publisher : The Korean Association for Translation Studies
  • Research Area : Humanities > Interpretation and Translation Studies

Kim Yeong-Hwan 1

1부경대학교

Candidate

ABSTRACT

Translational Tradition in Korea and Translational Policy Kim, Yeong-Hwan (Pukyong National University) The history of Korean translation involves various obstacles that have made cultural heritage very poor. First, Chinese characters had many defects as a means of translation of Korean language. Chinese characters were too many in number and too complicated to learn, mainly because Chinese characters were not phonetic symbols. And Korean grammar were quite different from those of China. Second, Korean alphabet Hangeul was created relatively recently. Until then Chinese characters were the only true and unique writing system. All intellectual achievements was done via those means. Hangeul could have changed the history of Korean translation. But Neo-confucianism taught that using Korean alphabet is harmful for studying Chinese classics. Hangeul was regarded as secondary means. "Eon-mun", which was traditional name of Korean alphabet, suggests that it was made for writing vernacular language. "Eon-hae", which originally meant interpretation and comment on Chinese classics, is incomplete as translation in modern sense. Many factors made Korean history of translation very poor compared with that of other East Asian countries. Recent attitudes towards English still show negative legacy of Korean history of translation. Academic Support as well as Economic Support of Translation are urgent. Our conception of translation should be radically changed.

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