Abstract

From the perspective of Skopos Theory, this thesis aims to compare different translation strategies and methods employed in the two Chinese versions of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Zhao Yuanren, and Jia Wenhao and Jia Wenyuan respectively, and then analyze what translation Skopos these translators have achieved by adopting their translation strategies and methods. 

Based on the three rules of Skopos Theory, and the functions of children’s literature, the author summarized four purposes of children’s literature translation, namely, translation for acceptability, entertaining function, aesthetic function and educational function. And the comparison and contrast of the two Chinese versions is based on these four purposes. To conclude, with the help of adaptation, both Zhao’s and Jia’s versions succeed in amusing children. As to acceptability, they both manage well in translating colloquialism and short and simple sentences, but because of his lack of consideration about children’s language development, Jia achieves less acceptability than Zhao in terms of childish language. What’s more, Zhao and Jia differ mainly in translation for aesthetic function and educational function. Zhao is proficient in employing diversified rhetorical devices and his translation is rich in linguistic beauty, while Jia lays his stress on the expansion of children’s knowledge while translating for culture-specificity by adopting foreignization.

Key Words: children’s literature translation     Skopos Theory     translation strategy and method

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 General Description of the Study-1

1.2 Structure of the Thesis-3

Chapter Two Literature Review-5

2.1 Children’s Literature-5

2.1.1 Definition of Children’s Literature-5

2.1.2 Functions of Children’s Literature-6

2.2 Children’s Literature Translation-7

2.2.1 Theoretical Perspectives of Overseas Studies-8

2.2.2 Theoretical Perspectives of Domestic Studies-10

2.3 Application of Skopos Theory to Literature Translation in China-11

Chapter Three Theoretical Framework-14

3.1 Emergence of Skopos Theory-14

3.2 Basic Aspects of Skopos Theory-14

3.2.1 Skopos-14

3.2.2 Translation Brief-15

3.2.3 Culture and Culture-Specificity-15

3.2.4 Adequacy-15

3.3 Three Major Rules of Skopos Theory and the Relationship Involved-16

3.3.1 Skopos Rule-16

3.3.2 Coherence Rule-17

3.3.3 Fidelity Rule-17

3.3.4 Relationships among Three Rules-18

3.4 Inspiration of Skopos Theory into Children’s Literature Translation-18

Chapter Four A Comparative Study on Two Chinese Versions-21

4.1 Introduction to the Source Text and Its Two Chinese Versions-21

4.2 A Comparative Study on Two Chinese Versions-22

4.2.1 Acceptability-22

4.2.1.1 Childish Wording-22

4.2.1.2 Colloquialism-26

4.2.1.3 Short and Simple Sentence-28

4.2.2 Entertaining Function-30

4.2.3 Aesthetic Function-33

4.2.4 Educational Function-36

Chapter Five Conclusion-38

5.1 Summary of Major Findings-38

5.2 Limitations of Study-39

References-41