A General Survey Of Tang Poetry Translation

Historical and literary dimensions attributable to Tang poetry, a gem of traditional Chinese literature and culture, contribute to the significance and necessity of its translation. Whether classical poetry is translatable has remained controversial for a long time. Despite the linguistic and cultural difficulties confronting its translation, Tang poetry is not in the main unyielding to rendition into English verse. The usual way of logical thinking and the possibility of retaining the original theme and image construct a firm basis for the translatability of poetry. And a great amount of excellently translated Tang poems prove their translatability. Yet Tang poems may vary in degrees of translatability. An appreciation and analysis of many different English versions of Li Bai抯 ~ (Quiet Night Thoughts) can give us some idea about the form of translation, employment of end-rhymes and schools of translators, while a comparative study of versions of Li Sbangyin抯 (~~) (Richly Painted Zither) suffices to further prove the translatability of Tang poetry. The two poems have a number of English versions tending to exhibit their different degrees of translatability. Retaining the original theme and image to the greatest extent and following the original poetic form are the basic requirements for a successful translation. Three general methods ?addition & omission, adaptation and straightness ?have been successfully applied to most cases. Some minor skills of rendition are particularly useful in dealing with the widely used rhetorical devices employed in Tang poetry. Some peculiarities of the Chinese language merit special attention from translators. All the methods and skills referred to in my thesis can only be optional for a translator. Special cases require special treatments. The difficulties in iv understanding Tang poems and in rendering them into an English verse form might make the collaborative effort at translating Tang poetry preferable. By 揷ollaborative effort?is meant that translation of Tang poetry into English is to be accomplished jointly by both Chinese and English translators.