English Language, Literature & Culture

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Study on Translated English Titles of The Tale of Shangri-La

Received: May 24, 2020    Accepted: Jun. 16, 2020    Published: Jun. 28, 2020
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Abstract

A classical work of traditional Chinese literature, The Tale of Shangri-La, has received extensive attention among Chinese and Western translators, which is written by Tao Yuanming, an influential writer during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In this work, Tao Yuanming depicted an ideal society where people’s life is simple, quiet and harmonious, far away from hustle and bustle. A. R. Davis, Herbert A. Giles, James Robert Hightower, Rick Davis and David Steelman, Lin Yutang, Luo Jingguo, Roland C. Fang, Sun Dayu, Xie Baikui, Yang Xianyi, and other translators all show great interest in this work and are eager to push it into the English world, due to which, The Tale of Shangri-La, has entered the study of foreign researchers and writers. In order to discuss how to successfully translate the titles of Chinese classics into English, this paper selects ten translated English titles of The Tale of Shangri-La, and analyzes different strategies and methods used in them. It is concluded that translators should take cultural factors into consideration, and adopt the strategy of foreignization as much as possible in order to better carry forward Chinese traditional culture and promote cross-cultural communication in the process of translating the titles of Chinese classics into English.

DOI 10.11648/j.ellc.20200502.14
Published in English Language, Literature & Culture ( Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020 )
Page(s) 74-78
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Translation Strategy, Foreignization, Cross-cultural Communication

References
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[3] Pan Wenguo. Translation in and out——on the Significance of Translating Chinese Classics into English by Chinese Translators. Chinese Translators Journal, 2004 (02): 42-45.
[4] Guo Jianzhong. Cultural Factors in Translation: Foreignization and Domestication. Journal of Foreign Languages, 1998 (02): 13-20.
[5] Sun Zhili. Chinese Literary Translation: from Domestication to Foreignization. Chinese Translators Journal, 2002 (01): 39-43.
[6] Sun Zhili. Again on the Strategy of Literary Translation. Chinese Translators Journal, 2003 (01): 50-53.
[7] Cai Ping. Domestication’s Leading Role in Translation. Chinese Translators Journal, 2002 (05): 41-43.
[8] Xu Jianping and Zhang Rongxi. Foreignization and Domestication: an Examination from the Perspective of Cross-cultural Translation. Chinese Translators Journal, 2002 (05): 38-41.
[9] Ge Xiaoqin. Domestication /Foreignization in the Postcolonial Context——A Note of Warming to Researchers at Home. Chinese Translators Journal, 2002 (05): 34-37.
[10] Wang Renqiang. Study on the Continuum Relationship between Foreignization and Domestication. Modern Foreign Languages, 2004 (01): 49-55+106.
[11] Zhang Xiaoman and Hu Zuoyou. Acceptance of Domestication and Foreignization in China. Academics in China, 2009 (05): 75-82.
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  • APA Style

    Lyu Liangqiu, Xue Jiayi. (2020). Study on Translated English Titles of The Tale of Shangri-La. English Language, Literature & Culture, 5(2), 74-78. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20200502.14

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    ACS Style

    Lyu Liangqiu; Xue Jiayi. Study on Translated English Titles of The Tale of Shangri-La. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2020, 5(2), 74-78. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20200502.14

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    AMA Style

    Lyu Liangqiu, Xue Jiayi. Study on Translated English Titles of The Tale of Shangri-La. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2020;5(2):74-78. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20200502.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ellc.20200502.14,
      author = {Lyu Liangqiu and Xue Jiayi},
      title = {Study on Translated English Titles of The Tale of Shangri-La},
      journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
      volume = {5},
      number = {2},
      pages = {74-78},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20200502.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20200502.14},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20200502.14},
      abstract = {A classical work of traditional Chinese literature, The Tale of Shangri-La, has received extensive attention among Chinese and Western translators, which is written by Tao Yuanming, an influential writer during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In this work, Tao Yuanming depicted an ideal society where people’s life is simple, quiet and harmonious, far away from hustle and bustle. A. R. Davis, Herbert A. Giles, James Robert Hightower, Rick Davis and David Steelman, Lin Yutang, Luo Jingguo, Roland C. Fang, Sun Dayu, Xie Baikui, Yang Xianyi, and other translators all show great interest in this work and are eager to push it into the English world, due to which, The Tale of Shangri-La, has entered the study of foreign researchers and writers. In order to discuss how to successfully translate the titles of Chinese classics into English, this paper selects ten translated English titles of The Tale of Shangri-La, and analyzes different strategies and methods used in them. It is concluded that translators should take cultural factors into consideration, and adopt the strategy of foreignization as much as possible in order to better carry forward Chinese traditional culture and promote cross-cultural communication in the process of translating the titles of Chinese classics into English.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    AB  - A classical work of traditional Chinese literature, The Tale of Shangri-La, has received extensive attention among Chinese and Western translators, which is written by Tao Yuanming, an influential writer during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In this work, Tao Yuanming depicted an ideal society where people’s life is simple, quiet and harmonious, far away from hustle and bustle. A. R. Davis, Herbert A. Giles, James Robert Hightower, Rick Davis and David Steelman, Lin Yutang, Luo Jingguo, Roland C. Fang, Sun Dayu, Xie Baikui, Yang Xianyi, and other translators all show great interest in this work and are eager to push it into the English world, due to which, The Tale of Shangri-La, has entered the study of foreign researchers and writers. In order to discuss how to successfully translate the titles of Chinese classics into English, this paper selects ten translated English titles of The Tale of Shangri-La, and analyzes different strategies and methods used in them. It is concluded that translators should take cultural factors into consideration, and adopt the strategy of foreignization as much as possible in order to better carry forward Chinese traditional culture and promote cross-cultural communication in the process of translating the titles of Chinese classics into English.
    VL  - 5
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Author Information
  • School of Foreign Languages, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China

  • School of Foreign Languages, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China

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