| Ch'ien Chungshu got the essentials in a critical way from a large mass of material in classical Chinese literature theory and translation theory; at the mean time, under the control of cultural self-consciousness Ch'ien assimilated the fine achievements from modern western learning. With the guidance of his own translating practice, Ch'ien made necessary modification and formed his own translation theory. For decades Ch'ien's translation theory has been highly praised. However, it has not been elucidated thoroughly so far. People always relate it to Chinese tradition, while few pains have been taken to connect it with modern western learning. Therefore, this thesis attempts to examine different aspects of Ch'ien's translation theory,interpreting it through applying to modern western learning, certainly most of which were utilized by Ch'ien. What has been translated by Ch'ien according to his own theory is taken as proof. Chapter I is mainly about Ch'ien's remark"the faithfulness in translation should embody expressiveness and elegance". Ch'ien valued the aesthetics effect as important as the informative one in translation. In practice Ch'ien used elegant classical Chinese in writing academic works as well as in translating. Chapter II touches upon Ch'ien's remarks on"translatability". The thesis proceeds from a microcosmic angle of view, referring to the theory of hermeneutics. In some way,"understanding is translating", accordingly,"misreading"and"creative treason"are unavoidable. Ch'ien managed to surmount the formal-structural obstruction, usage obstruction, presentation obstruction and cultural obstruction. Chapter III focuses on"the Notion of Sublimation", consequently, the translator's subjective activity was highlighted. By"following his own inclination without exceeding the established rules", the translator's role as a"postman"is realized. To prove this, Ch'ien's translation of some lines in Shakespeare's plays is taken for example. Chapter IV proceeds from the macrocosmic visual angle, discussing the outer space of translation, particularly its function of disseminating information across cultures in the globalizing context. It is demonstrated in three levels: mutual understanding without estrangement, getting through the obstructions and advancing harmoniously through dialogizing. For one thing, Ch'ien's translation theory and practice combined properly; for another, Ch'ien adopted nourishment in his academic studies extensively, from both Chinese and western, ancient and modern resources. These two features are used as veins to knit the thesis as an organic whole. The thesis intends to take both the inner and outer world of Ch'ien's translation into consideration. It analyses Ch'ien's theory intensively, and puts it into the context of history and multi-cultures. Ch'ien expressed many excellent opinions, which were formerly thought as"new, original and trenchant", appearing only in modern western learning. Ironically, Ch'ien disintegrates the western-centralism by using elegant classical Chinese, a language commonly regarded to be out of date. What he has managed to do enables him to stand on the platform of communication. And he has reached the core of the Sino-western dialogue directly. What is more, the translation theory and practice of Ch'ien Chungshu provides an advisable method of cross-cultural communication and different cultures'transformation so as to adapt to the changing world. |
