Study On Literary Self-translation From The Perspective Of Rewriting Theory

Self-translation is a special translation practice in translation activity,which refers to one person undertake a dual task by creating and translating the same literary works in different languages.When self-translating,in order to keep the translation alive in the target language environment,the self-translator will do some rewriting according to the target language environment.Lefevere's rewriting theory holds that translating is rewriting,and that the process of translation is also the process of rewriting.During translating process,the translator is under the influence of the three factors(ideology,poetics and patronage)of rewriting theory.The rewriting theory turns the translation researches from the intralinguistic to the extra linguistic,and show strong explanatory power on the analysis of the translation process.Eileen Chang got great reputation in modern Chinese literature with her brilliant writing ability.The famous literary critic C.T.Hsia speaks highly of Eileen Chang and praised her as “the most outstanding and most influential writer in China today”.Eileen Chang made a significant contribution to self-translation as an excellent translator.The great number and unique style of her self-translation are worthy of attention.This paper introduces the rewriting theory to make a further study of Eileen Chang's self-translated work Yuannv,and tries to discuss the methods employed by self-translators on dealing with the text under the influence of ideology,poetics and patronage through the analysis of Yuannv.Through the in-depth discussion,the following conclusion is drawn: the self-translation work of Yuannv by Eileen Chang is a creative self-translating activity,and this activity is influenced by the mainstream ideology,poetics and patronage at that time in America and China.Besides,Eileen Chang's personal ideology and poetics also play a very significant part in the process of self-translation.The combination of Eileen Chang's work and the rewriting theory,for one thing,may provide a reference and extension example for future study of literary self-translation,especially in the study field of Eileen Chang's self-translation;for another,it also provides a supplement to the further study of rewriting theory in China.