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名家 (Ming Jia - chinese pholosophy school)

English translation: The School of Nominalists

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Chinese term or phrase:名家
English translation:The School of Nominalists
Entered by: odgav

03:26 Oct 6, 2001
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary
Chinese term or phrase: 名家 (Ming Jia - chinese pholosophy school)
I have difficulties to translate the word "名家". Different english bibliographical sources translate it differently, say "The School of Sophists" or "The School of Logicians" or "The School of Dialecticians" or even plain "The School of Name". I found these terms incorrect, because a 名家 is a sophist, logician and dialectician at the same time. Maybe "The School of Nominalism" would be better?
Please help.
odgav
Local time: 06:52
school of logicians
Explanation:
due to the different context, there must be several explanations of 名家。
first，when it refers to a specific group of people in ancient times, it should be "school of logicians."
let's see the explanation in dictionary,

"[the School of Logicians]∶先秦时期以辩论名实问题为中心的一个思想派别,重视“名”(概念)和“实”(事)的关系的研究。代表人物有邓析子、尹文子、惠子、公孙龙子"

translation for the explanation: a school of thought in pre-Qin times who focused on the study of the relationship between "名 ming"(concept) and "实 shi" (fact)

according to the explanation, i think all of three terms you listed are correct, but "school of logicians" is a standard one.

"school of name" is completely wrong and "school of nominalism" is not pertinent.

if "名家" refers to a recent figure, it could be construed as "famous expert", because he or she must be known for his or her expertise.

if "名家" refers to a big family, its translation is "influencial family"

Selected response from:

Donglai Lou (X)
China
Local time: 11:52
Grading comment
Thank you for your time. But I think the general term "Logicians" dont qualify the special characterstic of Ming that they study the relationship between Ming and Shi. On the other hand, the nominalists of The Middle Ages had exactly the same subject (maybe not same conclusion). Therefor, since the latinised word "nominalism" marks this specific area of logic, the right term should be “The School of Nominalists”.
1 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1school of logicians
Donglai Lou (X)


  

Answers


14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
school of logicians


Explanation:
due to the different context, there must be several explanations of 名家。
first，when it refers to a specific group of people in ancient times, it should be "school of logicians."
let's see the explanation in dictionary,

"[the School of Logicians]∶先秦时期以辩论名实问题为中心的一个思想派别,重视“名”(概念)和“实”(事)的关系的研究。代表人物有邓析子、尹文子、惠子、公孙龙子"

translation for the explanation: a school of thought in pre-Qin times who focused on the study of the relationship between "名 ming"(concept) and "实 shi" (fact)

according to the explanation, i think all of three terms you listed are correct, but "school of logicians" is a standard one.

"school of name" is completely wrong and "school of nominalism" is not pertinent.

if "名家" refers to a recent figure, it could be construed as "famous expert", because he or she must be known for his or her expertise.

if "名家" refers to a big family, its translation is "influencial family"



Donglai Lou (X)
China
Local time: 11:52
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in pair: 467
Grading comment
Thank you for your time. But I think the general term "Logicians" dont qualify the special characterstic of Ming that they study the relationship between Ming and Shi. On the other hand, the nominalists of The Middle Ages had exactly the same subject (maybe not same conclusion). Therefor, since the latinised word "nominalism" marks this specific area of logic, the right term should be “The School of Nominalists”.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Wordsworths: Yes,interesting!
4816 days
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