Studies On Translated Literary Canon

Translated literary canon is one of the central topics that is focused on by the current Translation Studies, there are, however, not many systematic studies on this issue. The translation of Madame Bovary by Li Jianwu, a famous translator in contemporary China, is considered as a translated literary canon. Based on his Chinese version of Madame Bovary, this thesis will explore the canonization and canonicity in translated literary canon.First, the canonization of translated literary canon is a complicated process involving many elements. Considering the translated text itself, the canonization of Li Jianwu’s Madame Bovary stems directly from his wonderful translation of the many characteristics in the original text. Using the target language which is quite similar to Flaubert’s style, Li Jianwu fully reproduces and captures the original text to some extent, providing the Flaubert’s with a "desirable style". The crucial factors of the classic translation lie not only in that Li Jianwu, the translator has a thorough research and a deep understanding of the production by its original writer, Flaubert, but also in that they share similar minds and art philosophy. From the perspective of intertextuality, the canonization results partly from the high degree of intersubjectivity between the translator and the original writer. The "creation" of translated literary canon certainly requires other indispensable factors such as "writing" skill in target language and proper translation concept of the translator. However, in order to become a real translated literary canon, it is also essential for the translated literary work to be widely accepted and recognized by readers and to be published, read, studied, quoted and learnt as a classical object. Therefore, on the one hand, translated literary canon has ontological literary canonicity in nature, for instance it should be in the first place a translated literary work with high quality, literariness and artistic value. On the other hand, translated literary canon is also constructive in that its canonization is based on the collective efforts of translators, a wide range of readers, sponsors and so on. It goes without saying that such factors as social culture and political ideology of the target language are also involved in the above-mentioned canonization process.Second, considering the canonicity factors of Li Jianwu’s version of Madame Bovary, the canonicity of translated literary canon can be summarized from three aspects:from perceptual perspective, translated literary canon has some ontological features of literary canon, such as a high degree of literariness, artistry, aesthetics, and wide interpretation space as well as the "cross-age" feature; in addition, they are the first-rate translated literary works having the features of "literary canon" and "translation canon". From rational perspective, translated literary canon has a high degree of intersubjectivity, and the translated work itself also enjoys a high degree of intertextuality in both micro and macro aspects. Hence, translated literary canon brings "anxiety" to other translators in the environment of the target language—the rich translating methods and the language competence that rivals the original work in the translated canon make translators that come after feel under pressure and thus spur them to explore new and more suitable expressions in the target language. Therefore, from the perspective of reference, translated canon can also serve as the model and impetus for other translators; translated literary canon can be used for reference — it is not only the canon of translating practice but also the subject and reference for translation theory studies. Translation studies refer to translated canon. So do literature production and even social ideology transformation in the target language environment since translated literary canon vividly reproduce the literary techniques and contents of the original works.Finally, no matter what kind of "canon" it is, it can transcend time and space, and exist here and now. So do translated literary canons. Translated literary canons are time-tested excellent translated literary works. With reference to the nature of translated works, the translated literary canons studied and identified currently may disappear from the present at a certain time in the future and may not be embraced by readers any more. Even then, they should still be received as "canon" in translation history, can still serve as typical models for translating and interpreting process in the general sense, and still benefit the translators that come after and even a wide range of readers.