A Research On The Gains And Losses From Translators’ Aesthetic Focuses

Shakespeare’s sonnet is a style of th e sonnet featured by strict rhym e, pentameter and iambic foot. In the early twenty century, Shakespeare’s sonnets were brought into China. Since then, the transla tion and study have never been term inated in Chinese trans lation field. Over 10 com plete Chinese versions have proved that Chinese translators have been exploring va ried methods on the co urse of translating Shakespeare’s sonnets. From the retrospec tion of translation st udies, most scholars have made an analysis on rhym e and rhythm, style, rhetoric and other aspects. Few people have sorted out dif ferent translation methods in accordance with Chinese modern translation theories of poetry, through which different extents in reproductions of original aesthetic feat ures, the new trend and ru le under the background of twenty-first century’s cultural exchange will be revealed.The translation principle of “three b eauties” is put forward by Xu Yuanchong for poetry translation. It carries on the quint essence of traditional Chinese translation thoughts, breaks the principle of “faithfuln ess-centered” and deem s “beauty” as its pursuit. It reflects the mode rn aesthetic requirem ents for poetry translation. Shi Yingzhou’s, Tu An’s and Cao Minglun’s versions represent three different translation methods; besides, three transl ators have different identities. The original for m was reproduced in varying degrees. On the ba sis of com parison and analysis on their specific translation m ethods under the principle of “three b eauties”, this thesis is aimed at studying the aesthetic focuses, gain s and losses of dif ferent translators, and meant to reach conclusions: first, because of the different aesthetic focuses, their gains and losses are varied. Cao Minglun’ s version can reproduce the aesthetic features of the sonnets on the whole with m inimum losses in a creative approach. His translation method is consistent with the modern re gularity of poetry translation. Next, as Chinese and western cultures accelerate the combination, the tolerant requirements for poetry translation are inevitable, whic h will boost the developm ent of poetry translation and create fresh expressions for Chinese poetry writing in the 21 st century.