A Stylistic Marker Approach To Yang Qishen's Translation Features

According to Liu Miqing,the stylistic marker theory consists of formal markers and informal markers,with the former including six important markers and focusing on the analysis of stylistic features of literary or translated works.The theory,for being able to portray vivid characters,display exquisite artistic features and convey inspiring themes,can contribute to exploring translators' translation features and guiding our translation practice.This thesis conducts an in-depth analysis of Yang Qishen's translation features in his translation of the famous short story A Rose for Emily by American writer William Faulkner who is undoubtedly one of the representatives of “Southern Literature” in America as well as one of the most prominent modernists in the 1920 s,within the framework of Liu Miqing's stylistic marker theory.From the perspective of markers of sentence structure,Yang Qishen mainly uses linear translation and literal translation to render the ST periodic sentences,repetitive sentences and loose sentences.His sentence structures are flexible,changeable,and emphatic on the important information through the adjustment of positions or repetition.In TT1,linear translation is employed and the ST1 feature of using the periodic sentence that puts the main information at the end of the whole sentence is preserved,which therefore contrasts the conservatism of Southerners with the enthusiasm of Northerners.In TT2,he resorts to literal translation and keeps the ST2 feature of using repetitive sentences,which not only records Emily's life but also points out her tragedy of destiny.In TT3 and TT4,he uses linear translation and puts the main information at the beginning of the whole sentences,both thereby preserving the ST3 and ST4 features of using loose sentences,with the former creating the Gothic atmosphere and the latter revealing the theme of racial discrimination.In terms of textual markers,ST involves the coherence,mixture of long and short sentences and cohesion.Yang Qishen combines various translation methods,including literal translation,linear translation,amplification,omission and conversion.His cohesion is compact and coherent in its internal meanings.In TT5,he adopts literal translation and amplification to make TT5 meanings coherent and logical and reserves the ST5 feature of using coherence,which confirms the conservative ideas that the Southerner cannot tolerate Emily's marriage to the northerner Homer.In TT6,he combines literal translation,amplification and linear translation and preserves the ST6 feature of mixing long and short sentences,which portrays Emily's tragedy of personality.In TT7,he adopts literal translation,amplification,omission and conversion and maintains the ST7 feature of using cohesion,which makes the language closely linked and reveals Emily's tragedy that results from both her own indifference and her father's control.As to markers of figures of speech,Yang Qishen keeps the ST features of using metaphors,similes,images via literal translation and amplification.Tenors are visualized with deeper meanings through vehicles and images,which therefore contribute to our understanding of what is under description.In TT8,he adopts literal translation and maintains the ST8 feature of using metaphors,which points out the important position of aristocracy in the South.In TT9,he employs amplification and preserves the ST9 feature of using similes,vividly depicting Emily's facial expressions.In TT10,he adopts literal translation and retains the ST10 feature of using similes,which reveals the theme that Emily is the representative of the old South system.In TT11 and TT12,he employs literal translation and amplification respectively,both preserving ST11 and ST12 features of using images,with the former symbolizing the end of the old system of the South and the latter representing the rise of the new culture,which thus highlights the conflict between the South and the North.Two main factors influence Yang Qishen's translation features.Ideologically speaking,to enable Chinese target readers in the 1980 s to comprehend American culture,economy,and politics,etc.with no difficulty,Yang Qishen employs the foreignization strategy in his translation of A Rose for Emily.Poetically speaking,to preserve as many literary means,stylistic features,themes and other literary elements in ST as possible,Yang Qishen mainly combines literal translation with other translation techniques such as linear translation,literal translation and amplification.In terms of significance,theoretically speaking,this thesis can add the application of Liu Miqing's stylistic marker theory and provide a reference for the further research into Yang Qishen's version.Practically,the analysis of characters and themes in Yang Qishen's version cannot only aid the target readers in understanding A Rose for Emily thoroughly but also trigger further discussion of topics such as racial discrimination and women's social status.