A Study Of Eileen Chang’s Self-translated Works From The Perspective Of Complete Translation Methodology

Self-translation,though controversial,is a special presence with a research blank in the field of translation.In the 1980 s,that is to say after the cultural turn,translation research stepped into another stage and began to gain attention when more and more scholars started to attach importance to the study of translation.In addition,with the development of bilingual writing,the study of self-translation became increasingly important.Eileen Chang,as an outstanding female writer in the 20 th century,is unique not only in her style of writing and her opinions on female,but also importantly in her bilingual background and translation ability.With the rise of “Zhang Xu”,Eileen Chang was brought to public attention in the name of a translator.Apart from translating other writers’ works,she also translated some of her own works between English and Chinese,including The Rice-Sprout Song,Naked Earth,The Golden Cangue,Stale Mates,and The Rouge of the North.The translation process of The Rouge of the North is very tortuous,but in this thesis,the author holds that under the perspective of translation,from the English version of The Rouge of the north to its Chinese version,this book is Eileen Chang’s own translation.Eileen Chang’s translation has the value and significance to research.The book Applied Translatology edited by Professor Huang Zhonglian includes a monograph of Dr.Yu Chengfa,which is Complete Translation Methodology.This theory introduces complete translation in the aspects of the overview,strategies and methods systematically.One is taking complete translation as the level of translation theory.Secondly,there are two strategies of this theory including literal translation and free translation.Thirdly,it explains the seven translation methods in detail namely transliteration,addition,omission,transference,substitution,division and combination which contains thirty techniques corresponding to the methods.Thus,it can be seen that with high practicability,Complete Translation Methodology is advancing step by step with in-depth exploration,clear organization,and thorough analysis.The author of this thesis adopts text analysis as the basic method to research.Through the text analysis and summary,this thesis points out that firstly the advantages of self-translator lay on that her has the right to choose and speak and the uniqueness of self-translation determines the particularity of self-translated works.Secondly,with different motives and purposes,the writer chooses to translate her own works.One is for life,the second is for fame,and the third is for spirit.That is,forced by life,driven by fame,and chased by spirit.Thirdly,under the guidance of Complete Translation Methodology,and by the analysis of the translation methods adopted in The Rough of the North,it can be found that Eileen Chang adopts the seven methods of complete translation in her own translation works,namely,transliteration,addition,omission,transference,substitution,division and combination.Under the application and guidance of the seven methods of complete translation,it reveals that with profound attraction to readers,Eileen Chang’s self-translated works are not only highly readable,but also easy to understand,which are well worth reading and appreciating.With English and Chinese cultural background,Eileen Chang’s self-translated works are hot in the country and have been loved by readers.Nevertheless,her self-translated works are unpopular and the effect is unsatisfactory abroad.Although her back-translation work-The Rouge of the North is printed into a book in the United Kingdom,the comment is far from satisfying.The significance of this thesis is as follows.Firstly,it is to improve and perfect self-translation research and Eileen Chang research.Secondly,it is to provide some help for self-translating and bilingual writing.What is more,it aims to encourage self-translating and bilingual writing.Self-translators or bilingual writers can take it as a reference from the research of self-translation and other self-translators’ methods such as Eileen Chang to improve themselves and optimize their translated works,which can highlight the advantages of self-translators.The innovation of this thesis is to analyze Eileen Chang’s self-translation The Rouge of the North from the perspective of Complete Translation Methodology.Moreover,under the guidance of seven methods of complete translation,the author analyzes Eileen Chang’s self-translation methods comprehensively and concretely.Translation is for spreading and communicating.Exchanging is a cultural clash to some extent.Research on Eileen Chang’s self-translation may inspire scholars to think about the purpose and essence of translation and to promote culture exchanges and communications.