A Study Of Creative Treason In English To Chinese Literature Translation

In translation practice, translation methods and strategies as well as standards are always the focus of translators. Only when these problems are well solved, can the translation process be smoother and would the translated text be natural. Faced with differences in language and culture between languages, in order to make the translated text acceptable to the target language readers, the adoption of creative treason is an inevitable choice. On the one hand, the translator has to be faithful to the original text; on the other, he/she has to use flexible and open translation skills.The novel is one of the important literary forms with its distinct aesthetic feature. Language of characters, setting, events and theme etc. in novels are all intriguing and thought-provoking. During the translation process, translators should skillfully handle the inherent differences existing between Chinese and Western languages and cultures, so as to provide the target language readers with the same feelings as the source text readers have.This thesis chooses the translation of the novel Americanah by36years old Nigerian female author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as the case for analysis. This novel won the National Book Award and was selected as one of the10Best Books of2013. During the translation, the translator should not only restore the culture shock Ifemelu went through, but should also take the target language readers’ feelings into consideration. This paper gives a detailed discussion about the three approaches of the realization of creative treason in literature translation, i.e. creative treason in language (pronouns’ shifting into nouns, word order adjustment, changes in connection), creative treason in tone (tone in conversation) and creative treason in culture (treatment of foreign words, treatment of cultural shock). From the analysis, we come to the conclusion that the adoption of creative treason produces positive effect and have instructive significance, but there are some inevitable limitations concerning the specific application of creative treason.