A Report On The Translation Of Before We Were Yours(Excerpts)

This report aims to explore the translation process of Before We Were Yours and discuss the translator's findings in translating child language with the guidance of three principles of translation by Alexander Fraser Tytler.Before We Were Yours is a work of historical fiction by Lisa Wingate.The story is based on a real social scandal that a number of American children were brought away from their families by orphan farms between 1920 s and 1950 s.This book is characterized by vivid and lively child language.So how to translate the child language becomes the main focus of the report.Moreover,the translator finds that the challenges of translating child language mainly exist in idioms,baby-talk and long sentences.In order to make children English true to the original and acceptable to Chinese readers,the translator draws lessons from Essay on the Principles of Transaltion by Tytler and finds three major principles to follow.Bedsides,the translator reads some famous Chinese children's literature in which she finds that reduplication,suffixation of a nonsyllabic “r” and short sentences are frequently used to show the vividness and simplicity of child language.Based on those rules and findings,the translator gets better at making the translation more acceptable and readable.The report consists of four parts.The first part is a task description,including an introduction of the book,its author and stylistic features.The second part is a process description,including preparations,theoretical tools and quality control.The third part is a detailed analysis of difficulties in translating and solutions to them.In the end,the translator concludes outcomes and deficiencies in translation and hopes that can help other transistors.