A Study On Jiang Feng As A Translator

Jiang Feng (1929—), whose real name is Wu Yunsen, was born in Shanghai. He is a famous poet, poem translator, and researcher in China. He once studied in the School of Foreign studies of Tsinghua University and Chinese Department of Peking University. In 1991, Jiang won the State Council Special Allowance. In 1995, Jiang was granted the 'Rainbow Translation Life Achievement Award', which is the highest award in the field of literary translation awarded in China. In 1996, he was offered a visiting professorship by the School of Foreign studies of Tsinghua University.Jiang made great contributions in English poetry translation. His translation of Selected Poems of Shelley was well-received by both the average readers and the scholars. The publication of his translation of Selected Poems of Dickinson made him the first one to introduce Emily Dickinson into China. Meanwhile, he is also an important translation theorist. As to literary translation, Jiang holds the view that the primary goal of translation is fidelity. Literary translation is a kind of art with the primary goal of conveying both the cognitive information and aesthetic information. Jiang's translation principle of "similarity implies fidelity" is widely known in the academic circle. According to Jiang, poem is a form of literature of utmost artistic quality. The form and the beauty of art always go together. Poem as a kind of art can by no means exist separately from the artistic form. It differs from other forms of literary writing in that how it is expressed rather than what it expresses. Therefore, similarity in form implies fidelity in spirit.Based on the research results of the predecessor and the materials collected, this thesis employs a descriptive method to unfold its topic by probing into Jiang's life experience, his translation activities, and his views on translation, especially his translation principle of "similarity implies fidelity". Meanwhile, it evaluates his translation activities as a whole.The author begins with an introduction to the translators study in China, points out the inadequacy and insufficiency of the previous research and introduces the structure of the whole thesis. In addition, it also makes clear the significance of the study. Then the author reviews the previous studies on Jiang Feng and gives a summarization from the aspects of Jiang's translation, Jiang's views on translation, and related interviews on Jiang.Then the author gives a brief account of Jiang's life and translation career. It classifies Jiang's translated works into three types, ie, translating Shelley's and Dickinson's poems, translating prose. Some other important translations are also mentioned. Special attention is given to the acceptability and the influence of Jiang's translation.Next, the author explores Jiang's views on translation from the aspects of Jiang's definition of literary translation, his principle of "similarity implies fidelity" and Jiang's criticism on current translation views. Besides that, author's interpretations are also provided.In addition to that, the author commented on Jiang as a translator from both the theoretical level and the practical level and takes emphasis on Jiang's contribution to the introducing and translating English poems.Finally, the author comes to the conclusion that it is of great significance to conduct a study on Jiang as a translator. Both Jiang's translation practice and theory has made great contributions to the culture exchange between China and the western world as well as the translation studies in China. The author also hopes that more and more people will start their studies on translators and explore the predecessor's treasure, so that we can learn from them and made improvements.