Source Language Text Focalization And Diction In Translation

As far as the narrative literature is concerned, narration links closely with focalization. The source language text (SLT) focalization, the non-linguistic sign functioning as an essential literary element, undoubtedly influences the original writer's use of linguistic codes, the lexical expressions especially. In other words, the SLT focalization determines source language (SL) narration and the latter represents the former.Based on the widely acknowledged interaction between the SLT focalization and SL narration, the thesis tries to discuss the relations between the SLT focalization and the diction in translation.In the process of translation the thesis holds that a similar dialectic relation should exist between the SLT focalization and target language (TL) narration. That is, the SLT focalization should, to a large extent, play a decisive role in the translator's choice of words; and the latter interacts with the former, too. A lexical expression in TL narration could truly realize the SLT focalization if it has been chosen with awareness and observation of the latter. Otherwise, it would run the risk of blurring, even distorting the focalization of the source text. This might consequently result in a possible misunderstanding in decoding the source text and some kind of"deceptive equivalence"in encoding the target one as well.The conclusion is firmly supported by the characteristics of fictional translation, the sociosemiotic translation theory, the theories of focalization from some renowned western narratologists such as Gerald Genette, and some enlightening commentaries from Jin Shengtan, a famous Chinese commentator in the 17th century. In addition to those theories pertaining to focalization, the thesis originally provides both the intra-text and extra-text proofs of the SLT focalization.