Construction Of Cultural Identity From The Perspective Of Postcolonial Translation Studies

The current globalization not only makes obvious unbalanced development between powerful and marginalized nations or cultures,but also causes crisis of cultural identity worldwide.China’s cultural identity is at a crossroad facing the powerful English and American culture. The publicity of Chinese culture to the international community and the construction of a true Chinese cultural identity must be fulfilled through translation.Since the "cultural turn" in the1970s, translation studies have shifted its paradigm from the single perspective of traditional linguistic approach to various perspectives, within which postcolonial translation studies contribute an important research orientation.Cultural identity, as a key concept in postcolonial theories, is attracting increasing attention from the translation academia.Chinese classics, containing abundant Chinese cultural elements, are an important component in China’s cultural identity, which, therefore, can be constructed through the translation of these classics.This thesis,by adopting descriptive translation studies approach and comparative analysis,studies Arthur Waley’s and Anthony C.Yu’s English versions of Xi You Ji in light of postcolonial translation theory from their different treatments of the original novel both on the general and specific levels.It attempts to explore tentative ways of successfully constructing China’s cultural identity in terms of religious,social and language perspectives in translating traditional Chinese classics,as well as the factors to be considered and practical translation strategies during the construction process.