An Intertextual Study On The Translation Of The Banquet Bug

Intertextuality, considered to be an integral part of deconstruction, studies therelation of a text with its related texts, including former written materials, its era andthe social background. Intertextuality quotes to create something new. Geling Yanwrote her first English novel, the Banquet Bug, about stories happened in China. Itspopularity largely contributed to the fact that she wrote in English and presentedintertextual references to Chinese culture in accordance with customs and habits ofwestern readers, creating zero language and cultural barrier for readers. Its Chinesetranslation won many readers by applying to similar methods to translate.A case study on the Banquet Bug and its Chinese translation will be conductedbased on the intertextual translation theory proposed by Hatim and Mason. Theintertextual circle formed between the original novel, its Chinese version, the westernand Chinese culture is described in great detail. The main body of this thesis isdevoted to two parts. One is a categorized description on intertextual references toChinese and western cultures, such as, food, political and naming culture; the otherwill be an analysis on translator’s choices during the process of translation, such asdeliberately creating conventionalism, allusion and parody and modifying numbers.Conclusions are: translation is the combination of general translation principlesand translator’s personal choices. While the former has always been heatedlydiscussed and pursued, this study has shown that the intentions and behaviors of atranslator exert great influence on translation. Therefore, the study of intertextualtranslation will be complete when both factors are taken into consideration. Behindthe popularity of both the original novel and its translation, the one thing in commonis the writer and the translator cared much about target readers’ feelings.