Science Fiction Translation From The Perspective Of Skopos Theory

With the development and advancement of science and technology, science fiction becomes popular among readers and gains a number of fans at modern times. Just by translating, an important media, more readers could learn western science fiction better and many local science fiction works and writers were born. In recent years, the history, development, definition, category and translation of science fiction are becoming the focus of many scholars and readers. Even some universities set courses on science fiction reading and creating. Based on the previous study on this field, this dissertation tries to combine science fiction with translation study. Under the guidance of skopos theory, it searches on translating western science fiction dynamically and profoundly.This dissertation consists of five parts.The first part describes the origin and development of science fiction. It discusses the definition, value, theme and classification of science fiction. Part two refers to the value of translating science fiction and its significance to literature and translation theory. It is true that translating science fiction could have great impact on Chinese literature, translation, people's consciousness, and social development, which attracts more translators and readers to pay close attention to science fiction and real condition of science fiction translation. Then it illustrates the character and translation reality of science fiction. The real condition of Chinese society in the 19th century affects the quality of translating texts. The knowledge of translators also affected their choices on translation strategies.In addition,there is a general description of functionalist, especially skopos theory. The debatable strategies, such as, literal translation,free translation,domesticating and foreignizing are compared so as to give a clear description to decide which one should be adopted.The last part expresses that culture turn is an inevitable trend for translation.Based on skopos theory, foreignizing should be adopted as the main translation strategy and others should be selected according to translation purpose or The influence of globalization shows the significance and revolution of science and technology. Compared with science works which take the task to impart science knowledge, science fiction doesn't play the role as popularizing knowledge on science or technology. On the other hand, it can help to evoke the readers'passion and curiosity in exploring the vast science world. Science fiction belongs to popular literature, which allows the construction of fictional plots. However, excellent science fiction should be based on real science and technology, speculate the trend of the development of science and technology and the positive or negative influence on the whole human life and society. Therefore, science fiction translation should emphasis literary. However, Chinese literature translation has marginalized science fiction for a long time, ignored the systematic research on it. What's more, there are countable research on science fiction and its translation. It is hard to find works combining science fiction translation with skopos theory. Meanwhile, this thesis is a necessary complementary of science fiction translation which is rarely discussed or mentioned. It is high time that science fiction translation be concerned and studied.