Apr 1, 2014 00:17
10 yrs ago
Chinese term
分化
Chinese to English
Social Sciences
Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
文化分化， 经济分化， 政治分化
I need to confirm the best way to translate 分化 (which roughly translates to divide or differentiate) in the following context:
不少研究从经济分化和政治分化等角度试图解释中国近些年群体性事件产生的原因。
So, in this context would 分化 be translated to division for 政治分化 and 文化分化 but inequality for 经济分化?
不少研究从经济分化和政治分化等角度试图解释中国近些年群体性事件产生的原因。
So, in this context would 分化 be translated to division for 政治分化 and 文化分化 but inequality for 经济分化?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
37 mins
Selected
Differentiation
Differentiation is a term from sociology and from Marxism (the former usage likely influenced by the latter) and, based on the context provided and the register of the text with which you are dealing, I might consider going with this translation both for 政治分化 and 经济分化: political differentiation and economic differentiation.
Your sentence:
"More than a few studies have attempted to explain the causes for mass incidents in China over the past few years from the perspective of economic and/or political differentiation."
Though I think you may lose the theoretical foundation of the original text, a more colloquial English translation might put it this way:
"More than a few studies have attempted to explain the causes for mass incidents in China over the past few years from the perspective of economic inequality and/or political divisions."
Your sentence:
"More than a few studies have attempted to explain the causes for mass incidents in China over the past few years from the perspective of economic and/or political differentiation."
Though I think you may lose the theoretical foundation of the original text, a more colloquial English translation might put it this way:
"More than a few studies have attempted to explain the causes for mass incidents in China over the past few years from the perspective of economic inequality and/or political divisions."
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you for your well thought out answer. I also found that 分化 can translate to fractionalization which is a term used in economic studies．Also, I'd like to ask you a question about what translation software you use, if any, and what you recommend. Best regards,
Alan"
38 mins
stratification
economic and political stratification
48 mins
polarization (political), divide (cultural) , inequality (economic)
division = 分裂 or 分歧 (cultural 文化分歧)
polarization = 分化 （more about political)
inequality ＝ most suitable for economic
See the Wikipedia link below about political polarization.
Hope this helps.
polarization = 分化 （more about political)
inequality ＝ most suitable for economic
See the Wikipedia link below about political polarization.
Hope this helps.
1 hr
branching-out
供参考
6 hrs
albertdeng
New Zealand
New Zealand
Native in Chinese
Works in field
New Zealand
Highest, strongest, best
Native in: Chinese 
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English, English
Disparity
指的是政治、经济地位和处境的不同，这正是群体事件频发的原因。
6 hrs
division, faultlines...
I think division can work for both:
不少研究从经济分化和政治分化等角度试图解释中国近些年群体性事件产生的原因。
Many studies have attempted to explain China's recent civil disturbances in terms of growing economic and political divisions.
Other options: fragmentation, cracks, lack of solidarity, faultlines...
Many studies have used political fragmentation and growing inequality...
Many studies trace the causes of riots and protests back to China's political and economic faultlines...
Careful of the word 政治, though - it's broader than "politics" in English. When you say "political division," an English reader imagines two legitimate parties with strong disagreement. But in China, 政治分化 means the breakdown of political unity (i.e. identification with the party). It could be equally well translated as "emergence of political consciousness" or "breakdown of political consensus". I know this is translation, not critique, but it's as well to keep in mind what's actually meant!
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Note added at 6 hrs (2014-04-01 06:42:55 GMT)
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So, to elaborate on that last point:
...growing inequality and loss of faith in the government...
不少研究从经济分化和政治分化等角度试图解释中国近些年群体性事件产生的原因。
Many studies have attempted to explain China's recent civil disturbances in terms of growing economic and political divisions.
Other options: fragmentation, cracks, lack of solidarity, faultlines...
Many studies have used political fragmentation and growing inequality...
Many studies trace the causes of riots and protests back to China's political and economic faultlines...
Careful of the word 政治, though - it's broader than "politics" in English. When you say "political division," an English reader imagines two legitimate parties with strong disagreement. But in China, 政治分化 means the breakdown of political unity (i.e. identification with the party). It could be equally well translated as "emergence of political consciousness" or "breakdown of political consensus". I know this is translation, not critique, but it's as well to keep in mind what's actually meant!
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Note added at 6 hrs (2014-04-01 06:42:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
So, to elaborate on that last point:
...growing inequality and loss of faith in the government...
Note from asker:
| Thank you for your well thought out answer. I also found that 分化 can translate to fractionalization which is a term used in economic studies．Also, I'd like to ask you a question about what translation software you use, if any, and what you recommend. Best regards, Alan |
14 hrs
Inequality & Ramification
economic inequalities, political ramifications, and cultural distinctions/dimensions (in China).
Discussion