Japan and the West: A Journey through Time and Translation

Sammanfattning: This essay is a comparative overview of translation theory in Japan and the West from a historical perspective, beginning with the considerations of Cicero and ending with the turn towards literal translation in Japan in the late 19th century. The aim is to find similarities in the development of, and attitudes toward, translation traditions between the West and Japan. The first part of the essay is dedicated to Western translation theory and development, followed by the evolution of translation in Japan. Last, a discussion of the similarities found between the two disciplines, followed by the conclusion that, amongst other things, the attitudes towards translation in the literal vs. free debate were basically identical up until the end of the 19th century.