Research On English Translations Of Li Qingzhao's Ci Poetry From An Intertextual Perspective

Intertextuality is a relatively new concept in the discourse system of literary criticism and one of the popular theories in the academia at present. The introduction of intertextuality into poetry translation gives us a new perspective, so that we can re-examine the English versions of classical Chinese poetry from the intertextual view of dialogue, openness and relevance.Ci poetry of Song Dynasty is a treasure in Chinese literary history. Li Qingzhao is a famous Ci poetry writer in Song Dynasty, whose literary status and research value in the entire history of Chinese literature is obviously significant. With the translation of Li Qingzhao's Ci poetry, she is well known as a rare female writer by more and more people in the world. Her Ci poetry becomes one part of the world's feminist literature for its graceful and restrained style. Thus, the study of the English versions of Li Qingzhao's Ci poetry not only helps to popularize the Chinese Ci poetry but also promotes to flourish the feminist literature in the world.The thesis selects two Ci poems to the tune of Lin Jiang Xian of Li Qingzhao as the case to examine the original references and intertextual understanding of the original texts, look for the intertextual relevance between the original texts and English versions, and analyze the intertextual associations of the different English versions by comparison and comparative research method.The thesis is divided into three parts, including introduction, body and conclusion, of which body is divided into three chapters.Introduction describes the background of this research, and points out that the study of the English versions of Li Qingzhao's Ci poetry not only promotes the exchange of different cultures but also contributes to the prosperity of feminist literature in the world; It is also introduced the theoretical properties of intertextuality and the necessity and feasibility of applying intertextuality into the translation of classical Chinese poetry in this part..Chapter one focuses on the theory of intertextuality. First, it introduces the theoretical basis on which intertextuality is founded. Saussure's structural linguistics and Bakhtin's analytical method of the polyphonic novel and carnivalization of dialogue contribute to the theoretical basis; second, it presents the theoretical achievements of Julia Kristeva who formally proposed the concept of intertextuality; then, it points out that many researchers explore intertextuality from multiple perspectives; at last, it deals with the development of intertextuality in translation studies and its significance.Chapter two mainly deals with the literature review of Li Qingzhao's Ci poetry. First of all, it systematically reviews the study of Li Qingzhao and her works in the history of Chinese literature from the traditional period of Ci poetry to the modern era. Then, it illustrates the translations of Li Qingzhao's Ci poetry. Bing Xin was the first translator to introduce Li Qingzhao to the English-speaking world. Hu Pinching was the first Taiwan scholar to translate complete works of Li Qingzhao into English. There are numerous domestic and foreign translators to translate Li's Ci poetry, but most of their studies are incomplete and sporadic. In China, Professor Mao Yumei translated 32 Ci poems in her Picking the Best Ci Poems From the Washing Jade (2003). Professor Xu Yuanchong translated a total of 60 Ci poems which included some uncertain works and put them in his Literature and Translation (2003:436 ~ 547). At Abroad, there are two full-versions. Kenneth Rexroth and Chung Ling's joint translation Li Ch'ing-chao:Complete Poems and James Cryer's Plum Blossom:Poems of Li Ch'ing-chao .There are a number of selected-versions, such as Kwock C.H. and McHugh Vincent's joint translation Old Friend From Far Away : 150 Chinese Poems From the Great Dynasties and Landau Julie's Beyond Spring: T'zu Poems of the Sung Dynasty and so on.Chapter three is the main part of this thesis. It selects two Lin Jiang Xian of Li Qingzhao as the case and analyzes the guiding role of intertextuality in translation studies from two levels. The first is the translator's intertextual understanding of the original texts; that is the intertextual reference between the original texts and the translations. It is believed that translators should begin with the self-intertextuality in the original texts and examine Li Qingzhao's intertextual references in the background of her writing in order to have a more faithful understanding of the original texts. The second is the intertextual expression of translators. Different translators have different cultural identities in the translation process and they will take different translation strategies, which include the focus on the intertextuality of the original language culture or the emphasis on the intertextuality of the target language culture. No matter what kind of strategy, different translations constitute an intertextual supplement for each other.Conclusion tries to make clear that research on English translations of Li Qingzhao's Ci poetry from an intertextual perspective will lead the object of research from the original text and the translation to the original text and the reader, the text and the translator, and the dialogue between text, author, reader, translator and literature, external historical context, which will broaden and deepen the field of poetry translation studies. Therefore, the translators enhance their awareness of intertextuality actively in poetry translation practice will help Chinese poetics to take root abroad and expand its influence.