Application Of Foreignization And Domestication In Literary Translation

The thesis is the research on the application of foreignization and domestication in literary translation, especially in the translation of cultural-specific expressions, with the reference to two English translations of Lao She’s Luotuo Xiangzi. The aim is to testify the limitation of both foreignized and domesticated translation and the aim is to conclude that when applying the two strategies, translators should consider the limitation.In both China and Western countries, the translation field went through a fierce debate. The focus is mainly on which translation strategy should be adopted:a foreignized one or a domesticated one. Since1990, the year in which Andre Lefevere and Susan Bassnet put forward the idea of "cultural turn", the focus of translation studies has turned from the form and structure of language to the cultural elements that a language carries. Translation, as a communicative media between languages, undertakes the mission of transmitting culture. Literary works, to a certain extent, reflect the culture and characteristics of a specific time. Therefore, the translation of literary works, in a way, promotes the communication between cultures. The concepts of foreignization and domestication are officially put forward by American theorist Lawrance Venuti in his Translator’s Invisibility in1995. In his view, domestication is the reflection of national hegemony, which can be resisted by foreignization through the retainment of the characteristics of the source language. In China, Lu Xun plays an important role in promoting foreignized translation, but his extreme idea produces side-effect to the translation. Opposized to Lu Xun, Zhang Guruo and Zhu Shenghao favored domesticated translation. They believed that translation should not rigidly adhere to the words and sentences, but the transference of "spirit" was of great significance.It is true that foreignized translation can keep the characteristics of the source language, and achieves the purpose of cultural transmission, but the over-emphasis of foreignized translation would result in literal translation, making the translation read quite stiff and sometimes incomprehensible. Although domesticated translation can ensure the fluency of the translation, the over-emphasis of domesticated translation would make the translation lose the original flavour and produce a translation which does not read like a translation. Through the comparison and analysis of the two translations, it can be conclude that domestication should not be used too much in a translation, or the original flavour would be lost. Therefore, on the basis of not producing any misunderstanding to the target reader, translators should apply foreignized translation as much as possible to achieve the purpose of cultural spreading. But the translators should also bear in mind that the application of foreignized translation must be on the premise of the readability of the translated text. It is because that a translation, which cannot be understood by target reader, is far from culture transmission. Therefore, if foreignized translation strategy cannot ensure the readability of the translation, translators have to abandon the cultural element, adopting domesticated translation.