A Comparative Study Of The Translation Of Beijing's Indigenous Expressions In Two English Versions Of Luotuo Xiangzi-From The Perspective Of The Sublimation Theory

Chinese traditional translation theories give special emphasis to one particular aspect of the translator'S faithfulness to the source text while ignoring the translator'S innovation.However,Qian Zhongshu'S the Sublimation Theory attaches importance to the translator'S innovation and it turns a new page of traditional translation theory.Lao She is a renowned Chinese modern novelist who is known as the ?People Artist?.Luotuo Xiangzi is one of the most popular novels by Lao She and it reflects the real lives of the urban poor in the 1920 s.More importantly,it reveals the darkness and injustices of the society at that time.The novel has been translated into English many times since its publication in 1936 and it has had great appeals to readers in the throughout the world.In Luotuo Xiangzi,Lao She vividly presents Chinese traditional culture and indigenous Beijing culture,especially Beijing dialect.How to better transform these Beijing'S indigenous expressions of Luotuo Xiangzi? This thesis selects the translations of Luotuo Xiangzi by Howard Goldblatt and Shi Xiaojing for study.From the perspective of the Sublimation theory,the thesis analyzes translation strategies and translation effects of Beijing'S indigenous expressions.Through comparative analysis,the following conclusions are drawn.The first is that Shi Xiaojing mostly adopts the translation strategy of domestication on condition that she cannot keep the balance between the readability and the faithfulness of the translation.For the expressions embedded with strong Chinese cultural elements,Howard Goldblatt tends to adopt the translation strategy of foreignization as much as possible,and for those not so heavily culture-loaded,he adopts the strategy of domestication.The second is that the two translators have both largely attained the goal of sublimation in the translation of Beijing'S indigenous expressions.Howard Goldblatt has done better in terms of readability,faithfulness and integrity.However,there are some defects because Howard Goldblatt has not had a full understanding of some parts of the source text.Shi Xiaojing also does well in terms of faithfulness,but as Shi Xiaonjing mostly employs the strategy of domestication in the translation of culture-loaded words,her translation,to certain extent,has lost some of the charms of the source text.It is found in this study that the Sublimation theory can play a guiding role in the translation and appreciation of literary works.In particular,it can provide useful experiences for the translators and promote the spread of Chinese culture in the world.