Abstract

Specialty of the subject of translation of children’s literature is reflected on the duality of subject: on one hand, the adult translator should comprehend the source text with the eyes of children. The translator should have both aesthetic awareness of adults and that of children. On the other hand, he/she should apply children’s language to translate the source text so as to, not only conform the translated text to the cultural conventions of the target language but also let children of the target language easily and gladly accept it. Readers of the translations of children’s literature, both children and adults, completely differ in such aspects of physiology, psychology, knowledge, life experience, cultivation and aesthetic savor. Due to its special readership, children’s literature demands that the translator should fuse himself /herself with the character in the story, by forsaking his/her mature reading perspective as an adult, and by trying to take into account psychological behaviors and language habits of children of the target language and retaining the childlike innocence characteristic of children’s literature. Skopos Theory is of much importance in Functionalist Approaches which include three rules: Skopos Rule, Coherence Rule and Fidelity Rule. The core of the theory resides in the ‘skopos’ or ‘purpose’. With this in consideration, guided by the  Skopos Theory, through analysis of the two Chinese versions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the thesis explores the influence of the purpose of translation that the translators have in mind before they set out to work, on their choice of strategies of translation which consequently lead to a target text.

Key words: Chidren’s literature; the Skopos Theory;translation;Harry Potter and the Deathly Harrows

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-2

3. Children’s Literature Translation-3

3.1  Children’s literature-3

3.2  Characteristics of children's literature-4

3.2.1 Vivid image-4

3.2.2 Imagination-5

3.2.3 Literary heritage-5

3.2.4 Personal development-5

3.2.5 Discovery in children's literature-5

4. Skopos Theory Applied to the Translation of Children’s Literature-6

4.1 Skopos theory applied to literary translation-6

4.2 Skopos theory applied to the translation of children’s literature-7

4.2.1 A case text---Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-7

4.2.2 The comparative analysis of the two chinese versions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Harrows-8

5. Conclusion-12

Works Cited-14