A Study On Michael Berry’s Translation Of Huo Zhe And Its Reception From Bourdieu’s Sociological Perspective

Huo Zhe is one of the masterpieces of the contemporary Chinese writer Yu Hua.The work is distinctive in language style,narrative style,characterization,plot setting and cultural bearing.It has caused a great sensation in the domestic literary circle after its publication.In 2003,the American sinologist Michael Berry translated it into English,which has met with a good reception.The study of the underlying reasons for and influential factors of the best-selling English version of Huo Zhe,i.e.,To Live,is of great significance for the dissemination of other classical Chinese literary works abroad.This thesis takes To Live,the English version of Yu Hua’s Huo Zhe,as the research subject,focusing on the textual features and reception of To Live in America.Bourdieu’s sociological theory is applied for the analysis of the factors or reasons that have impact on the translation and reception of To Live.Through the above-mentioned analysis conducted from the perspective of Bourdieu’s Sociology,this thesis draws the following conclusions: 1)the reception of To Live has been influenced by both the American literary field and the Chinese power field;2)the translator’s habitus is shaped by his academic background and translation practice.It is embodied in the textual features of To Live;3)the cultural capital of the translator,the symbolic capital of the original author and text,and the economic and social capital of the publishing house have a positive impact on the successful transmission and acceptance of To Live.Bourdieu’s sociology well explains the causes of To Live’s success in America,which might provide valuable enlightenment for the going out of Chinese literature.