A Report On Chinese-English Translation Of Visiting Li Bai’s Birthplace (Excerpt) From The Perspective Of Eco-translatology

Charmed by the unique Chinese culture deposited in the history of 5,000 years,more and more foreign friends nowadays have been pursuing every channel to comprehend the profound Chinese culture.However,the inefficiency of publicity makes the foreigners unfamiliar with many local cultures and folktales.Thus,the translation of Chinese folktales plays an irreplaceable role in the export of Chinese culture.The thesis is a report on a partial Chinese-English translation of Visiting Li Bai’s Birthplace published by Professor Jiang Zhi.The main content of the book tells legendary life stories of Li Bai.Up to now,the translation of the legendary stories of Li Bai and related researches on folktales are rare.Therefore,the translation of the legendary stories of Li Bai is meaningful,because it enriches the cultural studies of Li Bai,contributes to cultural exchanges with different cultural backgrounds,and provides examples and references for the future translation of such folktales.Under the guidance of Eco-translatology theory,the author of this thesis has translated18 legendary stories of Li Bai in the book mentioned above.Eco-translatology,a translation theory proposed in 2001 by Professor Hu Gengshen,proposes that “translation is a translator’s adaptation and selection activity in a translational ecological environment”.In the process of translation,the author standardizes her own translation process through two stages,namely adaptation and selection,and this thesis summarizes feasible translation methods such as omission,amplification,free translation,information reorganization and so on in three dimensions(language dimension,communication dimension,culture dimension).In the case analysis,this thesis focuses on the various problems that appeared in the process of Chinese-English translation with an analysis of special cases in three dimensions,and explores the corresponding translation methods and solutions.Through the translation of text and case analysis,the report concludes that importance should attach to the translation of Chinese folktales for exporting Chinese culture,and that the “Going Out” of Chinese culture is just a collaborative process that adapts to choices and dynamic changes.Therefore,the translation of folktales into English is a new perspective of understanding Chinese traditional culture.In a word,the application of Eco-translatology theory can realize the adaptive selection and transformation of language,culture and communication in translation folktales,which is of practical significance for guiding us to provide readable texts for English readers to learn more about Chinese culture.