Browsing by Author "Gartner, Bernd"
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- ItemTrue words are not beautiful : foreignising Ah Q to fulfil the skopos(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010-03) Gartner, Bernd; Feinauer, A. E.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Afrikaans and Dutch.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is an analysis of The True Story of Ah Q in English translation (in Chinese-English bilingual format). By applying new translation theories, specifically those of Christiane Nord and Lawrence Venuti, and by demonstrating their applicability it is hoped that this research project will contribute to these theories becoming more accepted in China. The skopos theory and the concepts domestication and foreignisation are the main translation theories utilised in this thesis. The research was begun with the hypothesis that the translators domesticated the English target text, based on Venuti’s belief that the majority of English translations domesticate the original. The two main research questions are: What is the dominant translation strategy utilised by the translators? Does this strategy fulfil the skopos (i.e. the aims of the translation)? The research will also give suggestions for an improved translation and a more effective translation strategy in light of the skopos. In addition, the study will determine whether the bilingual format is suited for the fulfilment of the current skopos. As pointed out in the publisher’s note, this Chinese-English bilingual version of The True Story of Ah Q is intended to exhibit this modern Chinese classic as a great piece of Chinese literature. The primary aim of the translation is to give readers a real experience of the depth and the heights of Chinese culture. The secondary aims of the translation focus on language learning as well as the function for translators (namely to use this translation as an example for future translations). This research project will determine if the translation has fulfilled these aims. The translation theories on which the analyses in this thesis are based are presented in the literature study (chapter 2). This provides the foundation for the comparison between the Chinese ST and the English TT, the evaluation of the translation, and subsequent conclusions. Chapters 3 and 4 present the application of the theory, divided into an analysis of the macro and microstructures respectively. Translation decisions are analysed on these two levels within the theoretical insights presented in chapter 2. It will be these chapters that provide the foundation for the research findings of this thesis. In cases where improvements of the translation are proposed, suggestions will be made and motivated by theoretical insights. The final chapter (chapter 5) will answer the research questions in detail, based on the individual analyses made in chapters 3 and 4 and motivate these answers based mainly on the translation theories of Nord and Venuti. These answers as well as the suggestions for an improved translation are the main contributions that this thesis makes to translation studies. Lastly, suggestions for further research are made in order to stimulate further research on English translations produced in China.