The Frame of Western Learning and the Systematicity of Chinese Translated Technical Terminology

Modern scientific terminology relies on univocity (clear meaning) and systematicity (organised structure). Strict definitions are key to distinguishing technical terms from everyday language. Yan Fu noted China’s tradition of mutual glossing but lack of definitions. Systematicity, as seen in Linn...

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Main Author: Shen, Guowei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Fondazione Università Ca’ Foscari 2025-05-01
Series:Annali di Ca’ Foscari: Serie Orientale
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Online Access:http://doi.org/10.30687/AnnOr/2385-3042/2025/02/010
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author Shen, Guowei
author_facet Shen, Guowei
author_sort Shen, Guowei
collection DOAJ
description Modern scientific terminology relies on univocity (clear meaning) and systematicity (organised structure). Strict definitions are key to distinguishing technical terms from everyday language. Yan Fu noted China’s tradition of mutual glossing but lack of definitions. Systematicity, as seen in Linnaeus’s eighteenth-century classification, organises growing knowledge. China and Japan adopted Western science differently: Chinese actors used new characters, while Japan focused on synthesis. The method employed in Japan proved more effective. This paper explores their linguistic approaches to developing scientific terminology, ensuring univocity and systematicity.
format Article
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spelling doaj-art-d4a5533efe3f41a28949f37f456f93c12025-08-20T03:21:50ZengFondazione Università Ca’ FoscariAnnali di Ca’ Foscari: Serie Orientale2385-30422025-05-0161210.30687/AnnOr/2385-3042/2025/02/010journal_article_22317The Frame of Western Learning and the Systematicity of Chinese Translated Technical TerminologyShen, Guowei0Kansai University, Japan Modern scientific terminology relies on univocity (clear meaning) and systematicity (organised structure). Strict definitions are key to distinguishing technical terms from everyday language. Yan Fu noted China’s tradition of mutual glossing but lack of definitions. Systematicity, as seen in Linnaeus’s eighteenth-century classification, organises growing knowledge. China and Japan adopted Western science differently: Chinese actors used new characters, while Japan focused on synthesis. The method employed in Japan proved more effective. This paper explores their linguistic approaches to developing scientific terminology, ensuring univocity and systematicity. http://doi.org/10.30687/AnnOr/2385-3042/2025/02/010Affixation. Neologisms. Newly coined words. Systematicity
spellingShingle Shen, Guowei
The Frame of Western Learning and the Systematicity of Chinese Translated Technical Terminology
Annali di Ca’ Foscari: Serie Orientale
Affixation. Neologisms. Newly coined words. Systematicity
title The Frame of Western Learning and the Systematicity of Chinese Translated Technical Terminology
title_full The Frame of Western Learning and the Systematicity of Chinese Translated Technical Terminology
title_fullStr The Frame of Western Learning and the Systematicity of Chinese Translated Technical Terminology
title_full_unstemmed The Frame of Western Learning and the Systematicity of Chinese Translated Technical Terminology
title_short The Frame of Western Learning and the Systematicity of Chinese Translated Technical Terminology
title_sort frame of western learning and the systematicity of chinese translated technical terminology
topic Affixation. Neologisms. Newly coined words. Systematicity
url http://doi.org/10.30687/AnnOr/2385-3042/2025/02/010
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