A Tentative Study Of Lin Shu’s Mistranslation From The Perspectives Of Horizon Gap And Ideal Degree Of Interpretation

Lin Shu is one of the most debatable translators and litterateurs in Chinese translation history. His translation practice differs from others in terms of translation process and his unique diction. However, Lin Shu’s translation works have gained wide popularity among his readers back in Qing Dynasty. As a translator, Lin Shu flexibly processes source language text by adapting source language text for the acceptance of target language culture. Based on his profound classic Chinese writing style, his diction is authentic for the target readers to understand. Besides, by properly adding and omitting contents, Lin Shu fully takes target readers’acceptability and demand into consideration. Meanwhile, his way of translating receives wide criticism by a number of translators.Based on Horizon Gap theory and the concept of ideal degree of explanation, this present thesis studies Lin Shu’s translation work 《巴黎茶花女遗事》. The study extends different ideal degrees of explanation from the following five aspects, particular genres of source language texts, particular historical period, particular subculture of target language culture, particular reader group and particular translation direction. Consequently, the practical degree of explanation under different horizon gaps explains the uniqueness of Lin Shu’s translation.According to the present thesis, Lin Shu’s deliberate mistranslation boasts its historical significance. The charm of his translation work lies in his deliberate mistranslation, i.e. artistic recreation in his translation practice. Lin Shu’s case is an extreme to illustrate the importance and significance of recreation by distinguishing horizon gaps in literature translation. The nature of literature translation is the artistic representation of source language text transformation. The key to evaluate the translation work lies in the ideal degree of explanation to different horizon gaps. Therefore, Lin Shu phenomenon is a multi-disciplinary case combining translation study, literature study as well as intercultural communication study.From the perspective of Horizon Gap theory and ideal degree of explanation, Lin Shu’s translation regains its historical significance, for it takes full consideration of then readers’ acceptability and reception while respects the source language text. It will provide new thinking for current translators for their translation practice.