Study Of Zheng Zhenduo's Translation Theory From Stray Birds

Mr Zheng, as one of advocates of May fourth new culture movement, he is a writer, a scholar, a translator, an editor and an archaeologist. His versatileity can be reflected not only in writing and translation, but also in introduction of world famous works and arrangment of culcutral heritage. He has made tremendous contribution that a common figure rarely can do. Modern people often study Mr. Zheng from the aspect of history of literature, ignoring his status of a great translator and tremendous contribution in translation. In fact, Mr. Zheng is not only one of initiators of new culture movement, but also a great translator. He himself liked doing with translation, at the same time, he organized the literature study society. He introduced excellent foreign literature into the nation and launched study and discussion in translation theory with the literature study society as the background, making great and inignorable contribution in new culture movement, in translation as well as in the construction of new literature of the nation.Mr. Zheng's opinion in translation is unique. His translation works acted as the model in that period, playing the great historical meaning in initiating and filling the blank in the field of translation from the aspect in translation theory and practice. Mr. Zheng's deep knowledge of literature promoted his viewpoint in translation. His viewpoint in translation was closely connected with the social background, holding its characteristics of life-oriented and society-oriented. Thanks to Mr. Zheng, our nation's translation cause attained great development, which can be reflected from tranlsation theory and practice. He demonstrated the feasibility of translation, described the goal and function of translation. He was the first one to introduce the Tytler's principles into our nation, the first to discuss the issue of re-translation, the first to put forward the necessity of uniform the nouns in literature and developed discussion in journals then. He expressed his idea in europeanization of language while translating and commented on the whole modern literature translation history. These initiating and creative viewpoints played tremendous role in the devolopment of translation, directing the translation practice even today.This paper intends to study Mr. Zheng's translation theory from his excellent translation works Stray Birds. Stray Birds is a collection of poetry by Tagore. This collection of poetry holds an unique style, written in the form of prose little poetry. One can feel the effect of Haiku between the lines. Each poetry in the collection is very short, holding profound philosophy. It has no regular rhythm while holds the musical feeling. Stray Birds, under Mr. Zheng's faithful translation, was full of artisitc value with its original philosophy, writing style and fluency. Translation of Stray Birds represented the poet's original thought and beauty of the original poetry, fully reflected Mr. Zheng's translation theory. This paper makes a study of Mr. Zheng's translation theory from his translation of Stray Birds and discovers his viewpoint in literature's effect in translation theory. Through this paper, one can get a better knowledge of Mr. Zheng's influence and direction in translation in May fourth period with his leadership in new culture movement. I expect to change people's ingnoring of Mr. Zheng's status as a great translator, realizing the transition of study of Mr. Zheng from fringe to center, especially his role and status as a great translator in May fourth cultural transition period.