A Comparative Study Of The Two Chinese Versions Of The Kite Runner From The Approach To Translation As Adaptation And Selection

The Approach to Translation as Adaptation and Selection(ATAS)is a new translation theoretical system proposed by Professor Hu Gengshen in 2004.The theory applies Darwin's principle of natural selection into translation studies,defines translation as “a translator's adaptation and selection activities in a translational eco-environment”,provides a new description and explanation for the nature,process,standard,principle and method of translation.Based on the theory,the author has made a comparative study of the two Chinese versions of The Kite Runner: one is the traditional Chinese version translated by Li Jingyi(2005);the other is the simplified Chinese version translated by Li Jihong(2006).As a debut novel written by Afghan American Khaled Hosseini,The Kite Runner enjoys high reputation in the world.With the popularity of its Chinese versions in the mainland of China and Taiwan,more and more scholars have studied its translation.However,it is the first time to make a comparative study of the two Chinese versions from the perspective of translation as adaptation and selection.A comparative study on the two Chinese versions of The Kite Runner is mainly discussed from three aspects:(1)what kind of translational eco-environments the two translators have adapted to;(2)how the two translators make adaptive selection in the process of translation;(3)whether the two Chinese versions survive successfully according to the evaluation criteria of ATAS.By the comparative analysis,it is concluded that the two translated versions are both the results of translators' adaptation and selection in their own translational eco-environments.In terms of multi-dimensional transformation,the two translators adopt different translation strategies to render specific translations in view of their different translational eco-environments.In this thesis,the author has applied ATAS into the translation study of the Chinese versions of The Kite Runner,which not only enriches the translation study of The Kite Runner,but also provides a practical confirmation for the application of ATAS to the translation study of literary works.