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Manipulation and Norms in Literary Translation

Author: WangRongNing
Tutor: ZhangYingXian
School: Central South University
Course: Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Keywords: manipulation norms reconstruction cultural images Hawkes’ English version of Hongloumeng
CLC: I046
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2007
Downloads: 181
Quote: 1
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Abstract

In the present age of economic globalization and cultural integration, Translation Studies has stood out as a central and focal discipline. It is generally acknowledged that translation has expedited and propelled the process of globalization. Therefore, in the global context, so magnificent is how to preserve the cultural diversity, the cultural pluralism and the cultural identity in translation, ad hoc in literary translation.The thesis takes a tentative approach to apply manipulation theory to describe translators’ manipulation in literary translation and to investigate norms which function as regulatory aspect against translators’ intentionality and as well as solutions to problems emerging in the process of manipulation. In other words, norms perform double-function, and act not only as constraints but also as guide lines: on the one hand constraints on freedom of translators’ manipulation; on the other hand, providing ready-made solutions for translators’ manipulation. "Learning to translate involves a socialization process: it means learning to operate—and perhaps manipulate—the norms of translation" (Theo Hermans, 1999:83). The aim of manipulation theory is to provide new paradigm for the study of literary translation.It is well-known that Hongloumeng is a literary classic with highly artistic and aesthetic value. The whole novel abounds with cultural images such as mountain, water, pool, pavilion, wind, flower, snow and moon, which constitute a variety of groups of cultural images which then constitute a system of cultural images. These cultural images are to the whole novel what more flowers to the brocade, but they bring a great challenge for translators.After taking a critical attitude towards the manipulation theory in literary translation, the thesis employs the related manipulation theory to describe David Hawkes’ manipulation or rewriting of cultural images in the course of translating the Chinese classic Hongloumeng and to analyze norms behind translation. The English version of Hongloumeng: The Story of the Stone by Hawkes which is regarded as one classic translation in the world has a crucial impact on the circulation of Hongloumeng in the West. Hawkes’ has made a great success in transferring the colorful cultural images in Hongloumeng, which contributes indescribable charm to his translation. The aim of different manipulation strategies such as transplantation, de-coloration, substitution, explicitation and addition adopted to reconstruct cultural images in the target culture polysystem by translator is to cater to the expectation of the target-language readership and improve acculturation between cultures.It is the author’s contention that in context of culture, translation is form of social action, an inter-culture communication involving decision-making, describable in terms of manipulations, which are themselves governed by norms; the translator can be defined as "the manipulated manipulator"; the ultimate goal of translation is to influence and change the target culture via providing the acceptable translation products.

Manipulation and Norms in Literary Translation

Abstract

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