On Creative Treason In Literary Translation

Traditional translation studies emphasize the sacredness of the original and regard faithfulness or fidelity as the principal criterion of translation. However, translations are not always faithful in many cases and treacheries in literary translation are not uncommon. Just as Robert Escarpit describes, creative treason is the right key to literature communication (Escarpit, 1973:274). Treason is an important feature of literary translation. With the differences between language reference systems, cultural contexts and conditions that the existence of the meanings relies on, the source language text has to be changed from time to time in the process of literary translation. What the translator does in order to make the translation take on a new look is no doubt creative.The contemporary studies on creative treason are generally conducted from the perspectives of comparative literature and comparative culture, which are too broad to interpret concretely why creative treason is performed, what its constraints along with its results and significance are in the process of literary translation. Therefore, directed by hermeneutics, reception aesthetics as well as cultural studies approach to literary translation, the author of this thesis attempts to make a systematic analysis of creative treason in literary translation about its causes, constraints, results and significance. Creative treason in literary translation is the embodiment of the translator's subjectivity, literary and aesthetic orientation, translation purposes and opinions. And with the readers'participance and changes of the reception contexts, creative treason in literary translation is getting more abundant. Constraints on creative treason concern two aspects, namely the textual constraints and extratextual ones. Different language reference systems and socio-cultural factors like ideology, poetics and literary tradition and patronage all interfere with the occurrence of creative treason in the translated text in the process of literary translation. The performance of creative treason will end in hybridity at the linguistic level and cultural level in the translated text.The study of creative treason has great values. First, it may stimulate people to rethink of the criteria of translation, which are actually related with two factors, faithfulness and treason. They are complementary to each other and cannot be separated. Actually creative treason is a means of realizing faithfulness in literary translation. The second value is reflected in that it confirms and promotes the roles of the translator and the translated text. Finally, creative treason in literary translation is intended to improve intercultural communication. It not only prolongs the life and the value of the original works, viewing from the angle of literary reception, but also contributes to the enriching and preserving of the target culture.After the analysis, the author draws the conclusion that creative treason is inevitable as an important means of realizing faithfulness in literary translation.