Research On The English Translation Of Hong Gao Liang Jia Zu From The Bourdieusian Sociological Perspective

Hong Gao Liang Jia Zu is a remarkable masterpiece written by the well-known Chinese writer Mo Yan in his early phase of writing. This novel is characterized by its original language, anti-tradition narrative mode, unique characterization, complicated plots and exotic charm, causing a great sensation in Chinese literary circle after its publication. In1993, Red Sorghum, the English version of Hong Gao Liang Jia Zu translated by the distinguished American sinologist Howard Goldblatt, was published in America. This English translated version has gained wide praise and has always been in circulation in recent two decades. By contrast, the reception situation of contemporary Chinese literature overseas in general is far from satisfactory. Many translated versions of classic Chinese literary works failed to obtain general acceptance and wide recognition. Therefore, it is necessary and valuable to study the underlying causes and influencing factors that lead to the popularity of Red Sorghum in America.In the translation research field, after the cultural turn, there appears the sociological turn. In recent years, applying sociological theories to conduct researches on translation has become one of the focuses in the translation field. The sociological studies on translation are not restricted to traditional perspectives like analysis of text and language, making up for the deficiencies of previous studies, opening up a new prospect and carving out a new way for translation studies. Among all sociological theories, the theory put forward by the celebrated French sociologist Bourdieu Pierre is most frequently applied by scholars of translation studies. Field, capital and habitus, the three core concepts in Boudieusian Sociology, are of great guiding significance to translation studies.Therefore, this thesis applies the Bourdieusian Sociology as the theoretical framework to make a tentative study on the reception situation of Red Sorghum in America, analyzing related issues from the aspects of field, capital and habitus, and probing into the deep reasons and main influencing factors for the wide acceptance of this translated version. This thesis is divided into six parts. Chapter1mainly introduces the research background, research purpose, research methodology and the structure of this thesis. Chapter2is the literature review which analyzes and summarizes the previous domestic and foreign researches on the English translated version of Hong Gao Liang Jia Zu and the application of Bourdieusian Sociology in translation studies. Chapter3offers the theoretical work for the thesis, makes an introduction to the three core concepts of Bourdieusian Sociology:field, capital and habitus and shows the significance of employing this theory in translation studies. Chapter4introduces the author Mo Yan, the novel Hong Gao Liang Jia Zu, the translator Howard Goldblatt and the English translation Red Sorghum in detail. Chapter5has deep analyses of the American literary field around1990s, the capital possessed by the original text Hong Gao Liang Jia Zu and the translator Howard Goldblatt, his habitus in selecting translation materials and choosing translation methods, as well as the influences exerted on the reception situation of Red Sorghum in America by the above three aspects. Chapter6presents a general summary of the current study, summarizing findings and implications, pinpointing the limitations and providing suggestions for the future researches in this field.Through detailed and systematic analyses of the American literary field around1990s, the capital of Hong Gao Liang Jia Zu, the capital of the translator Howard Goldblatt as well as his habitus on translation, this thesis draws the following conclusions: Hong Gao Liang Jia Zu meets the requirements on literary works of American literary field around1990s in that the theme is related to the topics of history and political criticism which can arouse American readers’ interests and the style is in accordance with that of post-modernism literature which occupied the dominant position in the American literary field then; the original novel and the translator both possess great cultural, economic, social and symbolic capitals; in selecting translation materials, Howard Goldblatt chooses to translate literary works that can win his preference and are suitable for him to translate, and he regards translation as cultural exchange and a kind of writing which should integrate fidelity to the original work and appropriate creativity in the translated version in translating practice, ensuring high quality of the translated work and satisfying the interests of the American readers. These are the main reasons that contribute to the success of Red Sorghum.