Framing Narratives Of "Sufferings" In Translation

Traditional translation and interpretation studies tend to be regarded as sheer neutral activities of code-switching(谢天振,2011,preface,pp.9-10).With disagreement on this,Baker wrote Translation and Conflict:A Narrative Account.It focuses on narrative theory,especially the four main framing narratives strategies,including temporal and spatial framing,selective appropriation of textual material,framing by labeling and repositioning of participants.Based on Mona Baker’s framing narratives in the narrative theory,this thesis analyzes the narratives of Ji E De Nv Er and its English translation.Ji E De Nv Er is an autobiographical novel,mainly telling about the writer Hong Ying’s own experience in Chongqing mainly during the Great Famine period.It can also be regarded as the general description of the Chinese people at the bottom of society at that time.In the novel,“Sufferings” narratives as the theme can be seen throughout the text.After an analysis of the source text(hereinafter referred to as “ST”)and the target text(hereinafter referred to as “TT”)both at the macro level and micro level,the translator expresses Baker’s four strategies for framing narratives to highlight this theme to some degree.Firstly,through temporal and spatial framing,the time and space presentation of the ST is largely restored.In that way the reader can project some events at that time onto themselves,thus establishing similar feelings in different time and space to cause emotional resonance;next,in selective appropriation of textual material,the translator focuses on “sufferings”,highlights key contents,and simplifies and deletes unnecessary narratives;then,in labeling,the translator strengthens the narrative effects and deepens “sufferings” through labeling the names,group names and key factors;finally,in the repositioning of participants,the translator mainly uses the conversion of indicators and registers to adjust the relationships between readers and translators,and translators and other participants,so that readers can feel the emotions emerging in the novel through the details,thus obtaining a deeper understanding of the relationships between the characters.The thesis adopts Xiong Bing’s study on translation strategies,methods and techniques,and especially analyzes what translation methods and techniques are adopted in the TT to express “sufferings”.Besides,this thesis also explores the reasons for the translator’s translation tendency.In temporal and special framing,the translator mainly adopts literal translation to maintain the original time and space;in selective appropriation of textual material,literal translation,addition and omission are mainly employed;in labeling,the translator mainly uses idiomatic translation,shifts in semantic and pragmatic level;in the repositioning of participants,the translator mainly adopts syntactic shift to adjust the positions of the participants.The choice of adopting certain translation methods and techniques mainly depends on the target readership and the market.Finally,this study further proves the applicability of the strategies for framing narratives;it puts up with some framing perspectives at micro level;it summarizes the appropriate translation methods and techniques for framing narratives.This study also finds some limitations and offers some solutions.Hopefully,this study can provide reference for framing narratives in translation.