Cooperative Relationship Between Translators And Young Readers As Well As Strategies For Translating Children's Literary Works

This paper is designed to explore the English-Chinese translation of children's literature, based on the exemplification of two Chinese versions of Harry Potter series.The translation of children' literature is a special part of the literary translation because its producers are adults while its consumers are children. Therefore, based upon Piaget's cognitive stage theory, translation of children's literature should involve a thorough knowledge of children, children's literature, and children's language. The author proposes that translated literature for children should provide them with pleasure of reading rather than knowledge or moral instruction only. There is little consensus on the definition of children's literature. In the light of definitions of scholars home and abroad, the author of this paper concludes that children's literature can be seen as texts for children. Here, it could mean books published for children by adults, including native children's literature and translated children's literature.Recognized to be in a cooperative relationship with children, the translator should throw away adult authority and exhibit full respect for her/his future readers—children . That is, the translator should let the child be present and speak in the process of translation. And at the same time, there should not be arbitrary addition or deletion in the name of "for the child's own good". A complete and unabridged text should be presented to child readers. Bearing in mind that s/he is a grown-up while her/his consumers are children, the translator must select appropriate translation strategies, try to observe with children's eyes, feel with children's heart, discover the pleasure of children and express it in a style of children's language. S/he can also turn to children for help. Namely, both the translator and the translation can...