Vitalizing Research on Chinese Science Translation History-The Area of Pragmatic Translation Studies to Be Explored

Much more attention has been devoted to research on literary translation history than to science translation history in the past decades in China.The authors believe that sci-tech translators have greatly promoted social progress, economic property and science development in the country.It is necessary to exploit, gather and digest historical materials for translation related to society, economy, science and technology so as to take a turn leading research onto intercultural communication history.It is argued that the central subject of the research on science translation history is the translator, not the text of translation, as only the translator could have the responsibility for social causation.Therefore this paper suggests vitalizing research on Chinese science translation history and also discusses the methods.That is, based on localization of Western modern sciences in Chinese historic context, research should focus on translators with the reading of their versions and relevant documents for reference.