Focus And Field In Translating Shijing Into English

Taking Guanju as a case study,this thesis attempts to study the English translation of Shijing based on the analysis of the difference between Chinese and English within the framework of "Focus and Field" by Roger T.Ames.Hopefully,the present study would throw light upon the translation of classical Chinese poetry.As one of the Confucian classics,Shijing occupies an important position not only in the history of Chinese literature but also in world cultural arena.Therefore,it is quite essential to convey the essence of poetry accurately in the translation.At present,its English translations vary greatly no matter in focus or style attracting a growing number of researchers,most of whom focus on the transfer and reproduction of linguistic elements instead of the recreation of the poetic field.To solve this problem,the present study turns to "focus and field" for a new theoretical framework.This theory originates from Ames' new interpretation and translation of Zhongyong,in which he analyzes the characteristics of Chinese and English and claims that English is a substantive language while Chinese is a language of "focus and field" describing a world characterized by continuity,process and becoming.It can presume a world composed by an interactive field in which there are no final elements,only shifting "foci",each of which focuses the whole field from its finite perspective.From this perspective,the present study takes Guanju,the opening poem of Shijing,as an example and compares its eight English versions by James Legge,Arthur Waley,Witter Bynner,Ezra Pound,Yang Xianyi,Xu Yuanchong,Wang Rongpei and Wai-lim Yip,aiming to clarify the reproduction of poetic field based on the focus and image with the approach of cavalier perspective and image juxtaposition.The preliminary findings are twofold.Firstly,it is essential to maintain and recreate the poetic field where words are employed not only for their literal meanings but for the concomitant aesthetic experience in the translation of Shijing.Secondly,Ames' "focus and field" can be used as an approach to recreating the poetic field for the intuitive generation of aesthetic sensation.Therefore,it is suggested that translators should avoid the strict and logical English grammar to keep a flexible relationship among events and to erase the gap between readers and the text.The present study may shed light on the English translation of Shijing and classical Chinese poetry.However,due to the limitation of time and length,it remains to be seen whether it could extend to all the poems in Shijing especially those in Ya and Song since they are different from the case from Feng no matter in content or style.What is more,the limitation in version collection also needs to be taken into consideration.Further researches can focus on Ya and Song with a larger database.