In French Lobell Dictionary, nationalism is a political theory and movement, which demands a group to possess right to enjoy autonomy and independence. While in Collins Dictionary, it has three meanings:1. a sentiment based on common cultural characteristics that binds a population and often produces a policy of national independence or separatism 2. loyalty or devotion to one's country; patriotism 3. exaggerated, passionate, or fanatical devotion to a national community.
John Breuilly (1993) held the view that “nationalism is a legitimate action to pursue and control state power and to prove it.
The main aim of nationalism is to preserve national interests. In Hugh Seton Watson’s opinion (1993), nationalism may be a political institutional doctrine on supreme national interests, or a movement aiming at developing national interest.
Harveydin Kay (1988) thought, nationalism is a creative product from top to bottom and it appeared under special circumstance of west Europe because of long-term usage of state power.
Actually Benedict Anderson’s definition on nationalism was spread everywhere. He wrote
“when citizens living in one natural territory begun to feel that they share same fate, having common future, or when they feel that they are related together by some deep relationship, nationalism then shows.”(Benedict Anderson, 1991: 14)A basic precondition of nationalism is yearning for common future. In other words, the base of nationalism is clear wish to nation prospect by people.
2.2 Nationalism in Translation
Once George Steiner (1992) said translation is invasion, which means the translator’s understanding and perception in the text, it will sure raise resistance. The relationship revealed in translation can be explained with “Nationalism” in many ways.
Nationalism can be described on economic, political and cultural levels, therefore nationalism in translations can be called cultural nationalism. Cultural nationalism is the core of nationalism and a symbol of a nation or state. It is the combination of culture and nationalism, the theoretical level of nationalism, and the demands of nationalism in culture. Its core idea is the mutual respect and persity of different national culture; it stresses the culture of each nation in accordance with their own laws to develop, grow and learn each other, but opposes against copying without change; it aims at protecting their own traditional cultural essence while against cultural aggressing of other countries and succumbing to them. We can even recognize nationalism as cultural nationalism, because one national state is an independent cultural and political community. When people build a nation, it is best that they share the same cultural customs and attitudes, and to have efforts to create such a cultural customs and atmosphere, in particular, a common social ideals and values. In one word, cultural nationalism is to explore the maintenance and promotion of the national culture of the community nationalism.