Research On Intentional Mistranslation From The Perspective Of Manipulation Theory

According to the traditional translation theories,translation should convey the original text as accurately and faithfully as possible,that is,it should follow the principle of “faithfulness”.But because different countries have different languages,thinking modes and cultures,it is almost impossible to achieve complete equivalence between the two languages.In order to integrate the source language with the target culture,translators often make intentional rewritings,substitutions and deletions,resulting in intentional mistranslation.In the 1970 s,translation studies paid more and more attention to the influence of non-textual factors on translation,which was the so-called “cultural turn”.The manipulation theory put forward by Andre Lefevere provides a theoretical basis for the study of intentional mistranslation.William Somerset Maugham’s famous novel The Moon and Sixpence has gained popularity among readers from all over the world since its publication.The Chinese versions of the novel have been interpreted by different translators and published many times.Among them,Li Jihong’s translation is widely acclaimed with plain words and detailed notes.In the process of comparing Li Jihong’s translation with the original,the author finds that there are many intentional mistranslations in his translation.Therefore,this thesis makes a case study of intentional mistranslation in Li Jihong’s Chinese version,and explores how the three elements of manipulation theory,namely,ideology,poetics and patronage,manipulate intentional mistranslation.This thesis is divided into six chapters.The first chapter introduces the research background,objectives,significance,methods and the structure of the research.The second chapter reviews the research status of mistranslation at home and abroad and the translation of The Moon and Sixpence.The third chapter elaborates the definition,classification and necessity of mistranslation.The fourth chapter summarizes the theoretical framework of the research,namely,the manipulation theory and its three main factors——ideology,poetics and patronage.The fifth chapter analyzes the concrete manifestations of intentional mistranslation in the translation of The Moon and Sixpence from the perspective of manipulation theory.The sixth chapter makes a summary of the whole thesis and mentions the limitations of the research.This thesis finds that the intentional mistranslation in Li Jihong’s translation is a rewriting under the manipulation of the three elements of manipulation theory.In terms of ideology,the translator has adopted intentional rewriting due to the restriction of Chinese social culture and political ideology.In terms of poetics,the translator is mainly influenced by the Chinese language style and expression habits,and tries to conform to the Chinese language structure.In terms of patronage,the translator intentionally uses popular words to attract young people’s attention under the manipulation of the patrons’ needs and purposes.Through the analysis of specific translation examples,it is found that these intentional mistranslations are reasonable and positive,which can provide some guidance for translators’ translation practice.