Dissertation > Excellent graduate degree dissertation topics show

A Comparative Study of Three Chinese Versions of a Tale of Two Cities from the Perspective of Translation Norms Theory

Author: YangJunRu
Tutor: LongShiWen
School: Southwest Petroleum University
Course: Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Keywords: A Tale of Two Cities Toury’s Norms Theory non-textual level textuallevel
CLC: H059
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2013
Downloads: 59
Quote: 0
Read: Download Dissertation

Abstract


Translation Norms Theory is one of the important theories of translation studies, whose main purpose is to establish theoretical system of translation studies based on the description and application of Norms Theory and to guide translation practice and related translation activities. In1980s, Toury proposed Norms Theory on the basis of large amount of case study. By analyzing the three Chinese versions of A Tale of Two Cities from the perspective of translation Norms Theory, this thesis attempts to explore the translation strategies employed by translators and study the influence of translation norms on translation activities and translated works.First of all, the thesis reviews the origin, development and research quo of translation Norms Theory and introduces Toury’s Norms Theory. Toury classified Norms Theory as three norms, i.e. initial norms, preliminary norms and operational norms. Initial norm elaborates which norm the translator follows, the translator can follow the norm of the original text, or follow that of the target text. Preliminary norms including translation policy and translation directness are the macro factors that affect translator’s policy and directness before his translation activity. Operational norms including matricial norms and textual-linguistic norms are the micro factors that influence translator in the course of translation. Secondly, the thesis introduces Charles Dickens and his A Tale of Two Cities; its Chinese versions are introduced and analyzed. Thirdly, from non-textual level, the author analyzes the cultural background, the reason of translator’s selecting source text, translation directness and the initial norms that three translators adhere to. At last, from textual level, i.e. matricial norms and textual-linguistic norms of operational norms, the author analyzes the translation of table of contents, words, sentences and text in three Chinese versions.Some major findings could be borne out through analysis as follows. On non-textual level, the cultural background of one era will influence translators on the choosing of translation works. The open cultural background will impel translation works of various types, while the closed cultural background will remind translators of cautious choice of works which are consistent with the theme of the times; meanwhile, translators’ directness is influenced by the cultural backgrounds during translating process; translators are affected by both the culture of source language and target language, and the translation versions complying with target language culture is much easier for readers to accept. On textual level, the selecting of translation strategies is also influenced by various factors of non-textual level. The thesis has provided a new perspective for the study of the Chinese translations of A Tale of Two Cities. On the other hand, the case study can help us further testify and reflect upon Toury’s Norms Theory.

Related Dissertations

  1. Norm and Creative Treason: a Contrastive Study on Three Chinese Translations of A Tale of Two Cities,I046
  2. A Study on the Vairations in Wei Yi’s Translation of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens,H315.9
  3. Analysis of the change of local media related news to SMG "Shuangcheng" as a case,G222
  4. A Comparative Study of Two Chinese Versions Of Uncle Tom's Cabin from the Perspective of Translation Norm,H315.9
  5. A Study on the Critical Realism and Romanticism in Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities,I561.074
  6. A Tale of Two Cities Revisited: A Structural and Thematic Analysis,I561
  7. Transference of Stylistic Formal Markers in Fiction,I046
  8. A Comparative Study of Three Chinese Versions of a Tale of Two Cities from the Perspective of Socio-Culture,H315.9
  9. A Feminist Study of Charles Dickens’s a Tale of Two Cities,I561
  10. Different Writing of the Same Revolution,I106.4
  11. Creative Treason in Subtitles from the Perspective of Rewriting Theory,H059
  12. Integration of Translation and Poetics,H059
  13. Film Subtitle Translation from German Functioanl Pcrspective,H059
  14. On Extratextual Factors in Translation of Political Texts from the Perspective of Lefevere’s Manipulation Theory,H059
  15. Lin Yutang and Lin Wusun’s English Versions of Lun Yu,H059
  16. On Style Transfer from the Perspective of Stylistic Markers,H059
  17. Evaluation of the Usefulness of Level 2 Consecutive Interpreting Test of China Accreditation Test for Translators and Interpreters-From the Prospective of Communicative Language Testing Theory,H059-4
  18. On Translation of Domestication and alienation processing,H059
  19. A Case Analysis on Translation,H059-4
  20. A Study on C-E Informative Texts Translation,H059
  21. Research on Newmark’s Text-Typology and His Translation Methodology,H059

CLC: > Language, writing > Linguistics > Translation Studies
© 2012 www.DissertationTopic.Net  Mobile