A Comparative Study on Two Translations of a Mad Man’s Diary
A Comparative Study on Two Translations of A Mad Man’s Diary(《狂人日記》)
As a heavy-weight in literature, Lu Xun’s works have been widely translated ever since 1926, when George Kin Leung first translated The Real Story of Ah Q into English. More notably, even for the same texts, several English translations have been made by different translators, among which prominent ones are Wang Chichen, the couple of Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang, and William A. Lyell. In light of this, with the aim of exploring proper strategies and approaches in future translation of similar texts, this paper will make a comparative study of two English translations of Lu Xun’s representative work-- A Mad Man’s Diary ( translated by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang, 2002) andThe Diary of a Mad Man (translated by William A, Lyell, 1990), mainly according to Eugene Nida’s theory of equivalence and equivalent effect.
This paper will unfold in 4 steps. First, it will offer a brief introduction to ST. And then, in the second step, a recapitulation of the equivalence theory will be presented. The third step is a general analysis of the two TTs, which is followed by Step Four----a tentative evaluation of how equivalence is achieved or not achieved in the two TTs. Due to the limitation of space, Step Four will restricted itself to three specific aspects, which are titled as following: Classical Chinese(文言) and Vernacular Chinese(白話), Idioms and Names, Strong Emotion in Calm Language(寓熱於冷）.
Introduction to ST: features and significance
A Mad Man’s Story, first published on May 5th, 1919, is the first work written in vernacular Chinese and the first influential work in Chinese modern literature. This short story, from the perspective of a so called “mad man”, “intends to scourge the ruinous impact of traditional Chinese clan system and morals.” (Lu Xun, 2010, p. 7) This novel is considered a break up from traditional Chinese literature, because it is innovative in form and language. Traditionally,
As a heavy-weight in literature, Lu Xun’s works have been widely translated ever since 1926, when George Kin Leung first translated The Real Story of Ah Q into English. More notably, even for the same texts, several English translations have been made by different translators, among which prominent ones are Wang Chichen, the couple of Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang, and William A. Lyell. In light of this, with the aim of exploring proper strategies and approaches in future translation of similar texts, this paper will make a comparative study of two English translations of Lu Xun’s representative work-- A Mad Man’s Diary ( translated by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang, 2002) andThe Diary of a Mad Man (translated by William A, Lyell, 1990), mainly according to Eugene Nida’s theory of equivalence and equivalent effect.
This paper will unfold in 4 steps. First, it will offer a brief introduction to ST. And then, in the second step, a recapitulation of the equivalence theory will be presented. The third step is a general analysis of the two TTs, which is followed by Step Four----a tentative evaluation of how equivalence is achieved or not achieved in the two TTs. Due to the limitation of space, Step Four will restricted itself to three specific aspects, which are titled as following: Classical Chinese(文言) and Vernacular Chinese(白話), Idioms and Names, Strong Emotion in Calm Language(寓熱於冷）.
Introduction to ST: features and significance
A Mad Man’s Story, first published on May 5th, 1919, is the first work written in vernacular Chinese and the first influential work in Chinese modern literature. This short story, from the perspective of a so called “mad man”, “intends to scourge the ruinous impact of traditional Chinese clan system and morals.” (Lu Xun, 2010, p. 7) This novel is considered a break up from traditional Chinese literature, because it is innovative in form and language. Traditionally,
References: Venuti, L. (2000). The translation studies reader. N. Y.& London: Routledge 魯迅（2010). 《吶喊》，北京：外文出版社 Lu Xun (2002). The new-year sacrifice and other stories (Yang Xianyi& Gladys Yang, Trans.) Beijing: the Chinese University Press Lyell, A. W. (1990). Diary of a mad man and other stories. Honoluu: University of Hawaii Press