林纾翻译的多元系统理论阐释_英文_

［作者简介］王晓，女，福建师范大学福清文 学 刊·外 语 教 育 教 学
2009 年第 6 期
certain translation strategies and techniques is determined by many factors. It is mainly determined by the position of the translated literature in the literary polysystem.
The previous studies of Lin Shu and his translations were almost at the“source-text oriented”level. They emphasize the importance of the linguistic equivalence and regarded“faithful－ ness”as the only criterion for evaluating his translations. It is known to all that the traditional studies of Lin Shu’s transla－ tion could not explain the fact that why such unfaithful trans－ lations were not only warmly welcomed but also played an im－ portant role on the development of Chinese literature. Even Zohar’s polysystem theory provides us a new perspective for the study of Lin Shu’s translation. From this perspective, translation is no longer judged at its linguistic level. It is put into a wider social and cultural context. The employment of
In the 1970s, Itamar Even-Zohar initiated his polysystem hypothesis when researching a model for Israeli Hebrew litera－ ture. In his theory, Even-Zohar thinks the polysystem is con－ ceived as a heterogeneous, hierarchized conglomerate (or sys－ tem) of systems which interact to bring about an on going, dy－ namic process of evolution within the polysytem as a whole (Mona Baker, 2004: 176). The socio -cultural polysystem is actually made up by many polysytems such as the political, e－ conomical and religious polysystems besides the literary polysystem. These systems are interactive and related with each other. The translated literature is a subsystem within the literary system and it either maintains a central position or a peripheral position in the literary polysystem. It depends on the specific circumstances that operate within the literary system. He analyzed three cases in which translated literature may oc－ cupy a central position in the literary polysystem: when (a) a literature is “young”, in the process of being established; (b) when a literature is either“peripheral”or“weak”or both; and (c) when there are turning points, crises, or literary vacuums in a literature.
Ⅲ.Analysis of Lin Shu’s Translation from the Perspective of Polysystem Theory
Ⅱ.Brief Review of Lin Shu and the Studies of His Translation
Lin Shu is a prominent figure in Chinese translation his－ tory. He translated more than 180 foreign works, which brought him a high reputation in the literary circle. As a monolingual translator, he receives warm praises in terms of his contribution to both the improvement of the society and the innovation of the literature. However, he is also criticized for his unfaithful transfer of the original texts. It includes his employment of tra－ ditional Tong Cheng literary style and classical Chinese, plus his free adoption of such translation techniques as addition, omission, and abridgement, etc.
When the translated literature plays a central position in the literary polysystem, it participates actively in shaping the center of the polysystem(Mona Baker, 2004: 176). In this case, it is by and large an integral part of innovatory forces. Thus, the translator’s main task is to introduce the new features (both principles and elements) into the home literature through foreign works. These include not only new models of reality to replace the old and established ones that are no longer effec－ tive, but a whole range of other features as well, such as a new (poetic) language, or compositional patterns and techniques. Therefore, the translator will not adhere to the conventions and
norms that are already existed in the home literary system and the translator will adopt strategy of foreignization to keep the new forms of the translated literature. When translated litera－ ture is of the peripheral position in the literary polysystem, the translator often adopt strategy of domestication to assume forms already established as a dominant type within a particular genre, and the translated literature tends to remain fairly con－ servative, adhering to norms which the higher forms have al－ ready rejected.
（Foreign Language Department, Fuqing Branch of Fujian Normal University, Fuqing Fujian China 350300）
［Abstract］ Lin Shu is a prominent figure in Chinese translation history. His translations have exerted great influ－ ences on the development of Chinese literature. However, a lot of criticisms have been given for his “unfaithful”transla－ tions. This paper attempts to reconsider Lis Shu’s translations from the perspective of Polysytem theory and tries to give a reasonable explanation for his“unfaithful”translations in that specific society.